Hot-shot Ahmed sinks House

SLIDING TACKLE: Umair Iqbal of Coppice (left) challenges White House’s Dylan Ault.

White House 1, Coppice United 4

KHASER Ahmed’s hat-trick helped secure Coppice United’s passage into the quarter-finals of the Oldham Sunday League’s President’s Trophy at Cathedral Road.

The sharp-shooting striker perked up at just the right time for Jack Abbott Premier Division side United against a spirited White House from Martin Buckley Division Two.

Much-improved House were fearless from the outset against top-flight opposition and could sense a giant-killing when Keiran Grady’s flag kick flew straight into the net – you don’t see many of those – after 34 minutes.

House were already on top at that stage and will kick themselves for not making more of their advantage against a United side clearly not at its best.

To be fair, United were missing three key players and will be relieved to be through to the last eight.

United player-manager Yasser Farooq said: “We started really badly and it was when White House scored that we woke up. In the second half we were more ourselves.”

Ahmed ruined House’s Trophy dreams when he cancelled out Grady’s goal with an audacious 25-yard chip shot.

Shabir Ali made it 2-1 to United just before the interval with a 20-yard drive, before Ahmed put the tie beyond reach of House with the smartest of shots following a sharp turn.

Then came Ahmed’s final strike – a scrappy effort from close range – to rub salt into House’s already smarting wounds.