Miles Powell scored two and created the other last night as Whitton United progressed into the semi-finals of the Suffolk Premier Cup with a 3-0 victory over Brantham Athletic.

Three second-half goals proved the difference in this highly-competitive encounter between the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division pair, who met just 11 days ago in league action, Whitton winning 4-2.

The first-half was somewhat of a stalemate as both sides cancelled each other out, restricting one another to half chances.

Dangerous Imps striker Ollie Mann had two sniffs at goal early on but he flashed, and then toe-poked, his efforts wide, under considerable pressure.

Down the other end, Whitton’s Anton Clarke curled an effort narrowly wide, but the best opportunity of a fairly quiet half came with seconds to go.

Sadly for Brantham, Shaun Webb could only shoot straight at Liam Jones when well-placed after terrific work from Jamie Beecham.

Visitors Brantham had perhaps shaded possession and created the more half-chances heading into the start of the second half, but that all changed in the 59th minute.

Young Brantham goalkeeper Paddi Hawkins, who had trouble with his kicking earlier in the game, was left red-faced after his miscued clearance fell straight at the feet of the grateful Powell, who had the easy task of rolling the ball into the empty net.

The goal came from nowhere, and a second followed just two minutes later when the lively Karl Andrade saw his effort curl into the net off the unfortunate Ben Spencer following a clever knock-down from Powell.

Brantham were stunned and had little answer with Powell seemingly an unstoppable force – delightfully looping one sublime team move onto the crossbar, before powerfully heading home his second and Whitton’s third into the top corner in the 76th minute.

The hosts were rampant with every attack, Powell providing the platform for their forays, with stunned Brantham providing little by way of response as the determined Whitton defence blocked and headed their way through the remainder of the game and into the semi-finals.