The strong wind and an awful refereeing display, in which 10 added minutes were played in the second half, did not help the flow of the game but West Town Reserves turned in an excellent display, in particular striker Michael Craig, to push Cardea all the way.

Cardea started with Anton Fountain in goal behind centre backs Michael Williams, Tom Rimes and Stuart Yaxley. Kynan Bereznyckyj and Adam Simons started as wingbacks.

The middle three consisted of Gav Earl, Aaron Yeoman and Daryl Patrick with Matt Jarvis and Shane Cooke up front.

The division 2 side made an awful start to the game as West Town went in front with a free header from an early corner.

This woke up Cardea as they hit straight back and what a goal it was. Cooke ran the ball into the West Town half and found Jarvis on the edge of the area who laid it off to Bereznyckyj. The wingback ran onto the ball on smashed it in with the outside of his foot from 20 yards.

Five minutes later and Cardea took the lead. Cooke ran into the area and was wiped out on the penalty spot by the defender however the referee obviously left his glasses at home as he gave a free kick on the edge of the area, despite both players being six yards inside the box. The decision didn't affect Yeoman though as he struck the kick low into the back of the net.

Yeoman grabbed his second and Cardea's third after 15 minutes as he scored direct from a corner.

An injury meant the end of the game for Earl who came off to be replaced by Ryan Moore. As Cardea relaxed into the game West Town stepped up a gear and Craig scored two in five minutes due a combination of poor defending and good finishing to level the game up.

Cardea retook the lead just before half time and again the ball went in direct from a Yeoman corner, despite Ryan Moore and Simons both staking their claim for the goal. It was a hattrick of set pieces for Yeoman.

West Town drew level again just after half time and it was Michael Craig again for his hattrick.

Cardea went close to taking the lead again but Yeoman shot over and a Simons shot was saved by the keeper.

However, the fifth Cardea goal did come along moments later. Jarvis was fouled 30 yards out at an angle and Patrick's free kick went along the ground and evaded everyone and ended up in the back of the net.

Cardea were now playing some good football and creating good chances every time they went forward. Cooke and Simons both had chances but shot wide. Simons even tried an overhead kick but got it all wrong and landed on his back with the ball on top of him.

Daniel Robinson, Dale Moore and Ashley Simons all came into the action during the second half and it was a combination of subs that led to the sixth goal. First half sub Ryan Moore ran down the wing and his low cross was finished well by Robinson.

The game looked to be over in the 80th minute when Cardea scored a 7th. Yaxley brought the ball out from defence and played a great ball into Jarvis who took a couple of touches and finished into the bottom corner. Jarvis could have had a second moments later but the post came to West Town's rescue.

The referee, Charles Keats, had now lost control and was letting all challenges fly in unpunished, leading to several injuries and much frustration on the sidelines.

West Town took advantage of this and scored two goals late in the game to take the score to 7-6 with the referee somehow finding 10 minutes of added time to play, Cardea survived a final minute onslaught as Ryan Moore cleared off the line from a corner. With the keeper up in the Cardea box the ball was played out to Jarvis who survived an RKO attempt and a sliding challenge and only had to outpace the keeper to slot into an empty net but the referee called time in the 100th minute of the game.

Cardea progress to the next round of the cup and will hope to put in an improved performance in the next game.

After the game manager Kev Webster said: "We played to the level of the opponents today, taking nothing away from them they wanted it more. When we played the football we are used to we played well but it was sloppy all round with the wind not helping. Most of the second half was controlled by us and I think as a management team we maybe changed too much too quickly and helped them get a foot hold back in the game.

"Fair play to you all for seeing out the result and the win is what we needed. We need to be better because we are capable of a cup final but that's us as well as you. I apologise for the touch line antics and the mouthing off after the game. We are through to the next round and that's all that matters.

"Man of the match today was Yax he was winning most battles out their today, all the defence did well considering the way the ball held up in the wind. Let's put this game behind us move on and remember we have a league and cup double to play for."

Next up for Cardea is a huge top of the table clash against Premiair FC at Bushfield on Sunday 8th February.