GROUP winners Holyport had to withstand late sustained pressure from Wokingham & Emmbrook before winning 2-1 in their Hellenic League Division One Subsidiary Cup tie at Larges Lane on Monday.

Port boast an impressive record in Group B with an unbeaten record of five wins and a draw, but were pushed all of the way in an exciting game.

The visitors took the lead when Fabian Driffill lobbed keeper Felix Davies, who had headed the ball in his direction while making an attempted clearance outside of his penalty area from Josh Masters' high through ball.

Jonny Feaver struck the post before Port increased their lead through Chris Defranco's header from a corner in the 53rd minute, but the Sumas got back into the game when Josh Harris struck a free-kick into the bottom corner after 63 minutes.

Harris and Ben Broadhurst went close to equalising, both being denied by the keeper, and Wokingham thought they should have been awarded a penalty when Connor Holland went down under a challenge in the area.

Dan Bateman's battlers maintained the pressure and Elliott Rushforth struck the bar late on, but Holyport, with Adam Sharp outstanding in defence, held on to seal their ticket to the knock-out stages.

The only point Derek Sweetman' side dropped in the competition was to Wokingham in a 3-3 thriller at Summerleaze last month.

The Sumas will finish runners-up in the four-team group if they defeat Woodley United in their remaining game, but a defeat would leave them bottom. The tie is scheduled for Larges Lane on January 8.

Holyport face Woodley United at home in a league game this Saturday before taking on Burnham at The Gore in the second round of the Perpetua Press Floodlit Cup next Tuesday (7.45pm).

Wokingham, whose game at AFC Aldermaston scheduled for last Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, are next in action at Larges Lane on Tuesday (7.45pm) when they host Abingdon United in the Floodlit Cup.