Staines went into this game confident of repeating their recent league win over their near neighbours, but received a rude awakening as Ashford punished them for not taking their first half chances, and progressed to a semi-final in which they will start as strong favourites.

Staines welcomed back skipper Danny Gordon following his paternity leave, and Ashford were this time able to call on top scorer Scott Harris, although they were without injured skipper Paul Johnson, while Craig Ross was preferred in goal to their other ex-Swan, Paul Burgess, but county officials were pleased that both sides had approached the game with their strongest available teams.

On a cool evening, Staines attacked the houses end in the first half.

Staines made a good start, with Marc Charles-Smith sending a shot just wide, and Richard Butler actually finding the net early on as he turned in a rebound, but was flagged offside. Although Byron Harrison had a couple of dangerous moments for the visitors, it was Staines who did most of the first half attacking, with Scarlett once again very creative in midfield.

Ross made an excellent save from Charles-Smith, Dean Thomas had a powerful shot blocked, and the defence time and again crowded out Scott Taylor and Butler. As the half drew to a close, Charles-Smith sent another header just too high, and again had a shot kept out by Ross.

On 43 minutes, Ross got down bravely to snatch the ball off the feet of Taylor, and then quickly launched an attack, which reached Scott Harris out on the right, and the Ashford target man drilled a low shot which nestled in at the near post to give the visitors an unlikely interval lead.

Jeffreys and Logie picked up yellow cards for fouls as Staines made a promising start to the second half, the latter leading to a free-kick which ended in Taylor flicking his header just too high.

Staines finally got on terms in the 61st minute, when Taylor’s run was halted by a fine tackle at the expense of a corner, which was swung in by Dave Sargent.

A prolonged scramble developed in the box, as Staines saw repeated shots and headers blocked, but finally Richard Butler showed the composure to force the ball beyond Ross to score against his old club for the second time in as many meetings.

But rather than pushing on to victory, Staines then became ragged and ponderous, while Ashford responded to their setback with renewed effort, which quickly resulted in them regaining the lead.

Warren Harris and Ricky Wellard made surging runs, the latter ended by a Butler foul which brought a yellow card.

The free kick was pumped up to Scott Harris, whose header was well claimed by Wells. But it was a rare Wells error which led to Ashford’s 69th minute winner, his punched clearance to a cross-shot falling short to Ricky Wellard, whose crisp volley bulged the net from within the ‘D’. Half chances fell to Scarlett and Butler, but Ashford held firm.

Swans threw on their substitutes, and the visitors picked up a booking for a foul by Weight, but they could not seriously threaten the equaliser.

Referee McGann added a full 6 minutes of stoppage time, but Staines could not take advantage, and in fact it was the visitors who almost bagged a third. With virtually the last kick of the game, Scott Todd (who had only just come on) sidestepped Wells, but Jon McDonald was covering to clear his goalbound shot.

Staines: Wells, J Newton, Sargent (McDonald 84), Gordon ©, H Newton, Butler, Scarlett, D Thomas, Charles-Smith (Cook 78), Ifura, Taylor (Fenton 84); unused Courtnage (gk), Asombang.

Ashford: Ross, O’Sullivan, Joseph, Cooper, Jeffreys, Logie ©, Weight (Todd 90+4), Wellard, S Harris (Smith 86), Harrison, W Harris; unused Palmer, Hardy, Burgess (gk).