FAWLEY AFC last night completed a momentous week of giant-killing by booking their place in the final of the Sydenhams Wessex League Cup.

Having turfed out one Premier Division side, Hamble Club, on penalties on Tuesday, the Division One Oilers then took the ultimate scalp of cup holders Sholing on an unforgettable Friday night at Long Lane.

The 2-1 win means they will now do battle for the silverware with top-flight outfit AFC Portchester at the Royals’ Wicor Rec home on Saturday, April 28 (3pm).

For Sholing it put the tin hat on a deeply disappointing week, having also had the Southampton Senior Cup wrestled from their grasp in a penalty shootout defeat by Blackfield & Langley.

Fawley took the lead on 32 minutes when Declan Hartigan burst through the centre of the park and laid the ball off to Ben Bolton. He then slid it through for Ollie Bradley to tuck away.

Three minutes before half-time the Oilers were in dreamland when Dan Miller picked up only his fourth yellow card in 250 games. From the resultant free kick, Dan Semmonds swung the ball into the area and Bolton met it with a diving header that span into the far corner.

Sholing – shorn of Lee Wort, Owen Roundell, Alex Sawyer and Marvin McLean – mustered only one effort on target in the first 45 minutes.

Dan Mason headed against the crossbar just after the break, but Fawley also hit the woodwork on 55 minutes as the visitors struggled against the hard-working, pacy home side.

The Boatmen did manage to pull one back on 72 minutes when Ryan Gosney’s kick was flicked into the path of Mason to pick out the far corner, but a late Sholing rally failed to materialise and Fawley dug in for a richly-deserved win.

There were no hard feelings from Sholing boss Dave Diaper who said: "Congratulations to Fawley, who showed a greater passion and desire to win the game and get to the final against Portchester.

"We looked like a Southern League side against Blackfield on Tuesday, but we looked bang average tonight. Good luck to Fawley in the final.”

Portchester made it through to another final on Thursday, beating Gosport Borough 4-2 in the Portsmouth Senior Cup through Dan Wooden, Alex Baldacchino (2) and Steve Ramsey. They will face either Fareham Town or Havant & Waterlooville in the final.