TEAM Solent are through to their second cup final of the season.

But James Taylor’s Students had to do it the hard way tonight with a 2-1 extra-time win over Division One leaders Portland United in the Sydenhams League Cup.

With full-time approaching, Solent still trailed to Alex Godfrey’s close-range volley scored after just 12 minutes at Fawcett’s Field.

But the Students, second best in the first half, piled on the pressure after the break and, following a disallowed goal from Martin Johnson, star man Jesse Waller-Lassen struck a timely 90th-minute leveller.

With the momentum in Solent’s favour, Matt Sheedy grabbed the extra-time winner.

Solent, already through to the Southampton Senior Cup final against Blackfield & Langley at St Mary’s next Wednesday, now have another big date to look forward to.

They will take on Newport IoW in the SLC final at Salisbury FC on Monday, May 2.

Newport overcame Brockenhurst 2-0 on Monday courtesy of Joe Butcher and Scott Sampson.

*Winchester City came away with a 2-2 draw at title favourites Cinderford Town in the Southern One South & West.

Both Cinderford goals were Lee Smith penalties and the Gloucestershire outfit also had two players sent off.

Smith’s first spot kick, on 14 minutes, separated the sides at the interval but, by then, Cinderford had had right-back Keiran Thomas shown a second yellow.

Winchester cashed in after the break with Craig Feeney and Warren Bentley scoring in the 49th and 53rd minutes, but there was late drama to come.

With four minutes to go Smith levelled from the spot to maintain Cinderford’s unbeaten home record before home midfielder Lorcan Sheehan saw red for a second booking.

Swindon Supermarine’s 1-0 win at Bishops Cleeve drops Winchester to fifth.

*Elsewhere in Gloucestershire, AFC Totton lost an eight-goal thriller 5-3 at Shortwood United.

The first half was relatively uneventful with Nick Humphreys' 42nd-minute header giving The Woods the edge.

But from the restart Totton were twice punished from corners, through Will Morford and Andy Lewis, and suddenly found themselves 3-0 down.

They hit back through Neil Williams and Nathaniel Sherborne before Mike Gosney levelled things 3-3 with a 77th-minute penalty.

But there was late Stags heartbreak as Jake Lee and Nick Peare struck from distance to secure Shortwood the points.

*Salisbury closed in on the Sydenhams Premier title as Ashley Jarvis (penalty) and Claudio Herbert saw off AFC Portchester 2-0 in front of a 683 Ray Mac crowd.

Bottom of the table Folland Sports crashed 3-0 at Andover Town (Lewis Benson 2, Sam Pekun), Sholing came unstuck 2-0 at Moneyfields (Dan Woodward, Alex Shephard) and Fareham Town dispensed with Lymington 2-0 (Callum Laycock, Benny Read). Bemerton (Shaun Brian, Brad Magookin, Jack Lovell) won 3-1 at Hamworthy (Jack Satterley).