RYAN Crooks came off the bench to score twice as a youthful Oxford United won 3-1 at Ardley United in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup quarter-final.

After a tight first half, Billy Gillett missed a glorious chance just before the hour mark to put the hosts in front.

Substitute Crooks was twice superbly denied by Tom Molloy, but the Ardley goalkeeper was finally beaten 18 minutes from time.

Albie Hopkins slid a pass through for Crooks, who slotted home.

And he struck again six minutes later, when a tiring Ardley defence gave him time and space in the penalty area.

The Uhlsport Hellenic League side pulled a goal back five minutes from time, when Greg Hackett burst through and smashed a shot past Niall Clayton.

But United held firm and added a third goal deep into stoppage-time with a terrific strike from Owen James.

Ardley Utd: Molloy, Leggett, McKirnan, West, Boyd (Headford 64), Moore (Feaver 64), Mundy, Gabbidon, Gillett, Harris, Hackett.

Unused subs: Lewis, Waite, Palfreeman.

Oxford Utd: Clayton, Carr, Berry-Hargreaves, Baker, Bryan, Hopkins, Cowan (McCreadie 82), Heap, James, Lofthouse, Noel-Williams (Crooks 58).

Unused subs: Harris, Stevens, Chilcott.

The U's will be joined in the last four by Banbury United, who beat Easington Sports 2-1.

Callum Convey fired the Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1 West underdogs into a shock lead.

But Evo-Stik South League Premier Division side Banbury drew level through Ricky Johnson on 19 minutes.

Charlie Wise scored what turned out to be the winner a minute before half-time.

Elsewhere, North Leigh’s miserable South Lough West Division campaign continued with a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of Swindon Supermarine.

Thame United also lost 3-0, going down at home to Hartley Wintney in the East Division.

However, there was better news of Didcot Town, who beat Redditch United 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the bigfreebet.com Challenge Cup.

Felipe Barcelos (2) and David Murphy were on the mark for Andy Ballard’s men.