AN impressive display from Ben Reardon helped North Leigh into the first qualifying round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy with a 3-2 victory over Sholing at Eynsham Park.

In an action-packed opening, Reardon fired North Leigh in front inside three minutes with a spectacular 25-yard strike.

Leigh could quickly have doubled their lead as visiting keeper Michael Hookway raced out to block Matty Taylor’s shot from Reardon’s run and pass.

Only an offside flag denied a superb Karl Dodds overhead kick which flew past Hookway in the sixth minute.

Sholing drew level on 19 minutes as Marvin McLean drilled home a first-time shot.

Leigh were again quick off the mark in the second half, regaining the lead on 50 minutes as Taylor lashed home at the near post following a precise pass from Kieran Sanders.

And it was 3-1 eight minutes later as another penetrating run from Reardon ended with him being upended in the box by Dave Marden.

Stuart Hole confidently dispatched the resulting penalty.

The home side appeared to be in complete control, but the visitors were handed a lifeline just after the hour when a through ball enabled Nick Watts to race clear and lob the advancing Adam Lonsdale in the Leigh goal.

As both sides raised the tempo, a surging run from Taylor ended with his powerful low shot being well saved by the diving Hookway.

Lonsdale was again called into action eight minutse from time, denying McLean with a superb diving save as North Leigh secured a trip to Paulton Rovers in the next round.

North Leigh: Lonsdale, Collins, Caton, Clark (Bowles 85), Hole, Dodds, Reardon, Redknap (Posey 76), Taylor, McCabe, Sanders (Burnell 65) . Sub not used: Barrett.

  • CLANFIELD booked their place in the second round of the FA Carlsberg Vase with a 2-1 victory over Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Div-ision side Fairford on Sat-urday.

The victory came at at cost as defender Alan Rodgers suffered a fractured fibula midway through the second half.

Clanfield went ahead in the 25th minute with a superb goal.

Karl Dickensen fed Dean Mays on the right and a fine cross-field pass picked out Craig Mays.

He in turn set up Steve Olphert, who finished well.

Fairford hit back to equalise when Jacques Tertois fired in from close range.

But just five minutes before the break, Dean Mays found Dan Bishop, who cut in and struck home what proved to be the winning goal.

The injury to Rodgers in the 65th minute took the gloss off the win, but Clanfield held on.

SECOND ROUND DRAW Colliers Row Utd v Witney Utd, Clanfield v Bemerton Heath.

* Ties to be played Sat, Nov 13.