A FOOTBALLER whose brother scored the goal which knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup has had his own moment of glory with Romsey Town Reserves.

John Howard got the 82nd-minute goal which clinched Romsey's first appearance at Saints' St Mary's stadium - in the Southampton Senior Cup. Brother, Brian, struck Barnsley's winner in the fifth round of the FA Cup at Anfield.

After their sixth round triumph over Chelsea, skipper, Brian, 25, is all set to lead Barnsley at Wembley on Sunday, April 6, in their semi-final against Cardiff.

The two brothers grew up at Eastleigh. After spells on the books of Saints and Chelsea, Brian went to Swindon Town before moving north to Barnsley, where his drive and his skill have earned him the captaincy.

He still gets back to visit his parents, Billy and Linda, at their Eastleigh home at every opportunity. Brian told the Romsey Advertiser: "They are so happy for both of us and they've always given us great support.

"Now they follow me all over the country and it was great that they and John were at the Liverpool game and the Chelsea game. But I do miss home and I try to get back as much as I can."

A big favourite with Barnsley fans, Brian has no regrets about moving north and knows winning the cup is a real possibility with only one premiership side, Portsmouth, left in the competition.

"We know we will have a better chance of winning the FA Cup and it's good to see a semi-final line-up which is not dominated by the big four," he said.

"And I'm absolutely chuffed that John's through to his final. I'll be driving down to cheer for him on the night."

John, 22, now works with special needs children at the Osbourne School, Winchester. He, too, was on Saints' books as a schoolboy and later had trials with Glasgow Rangers, as a striker, and then with Bournemouth and Rushden and Diamonds as a goalkeeper. He played for Lymington and New Milton, Eastleigh and Totton before joining Romsey last season.

John will be watching his big brother at Wembley and Brian has his ticket for the Senior Cup final between Romsey Reserves and VTFC (Vosper Thornycrofts) at St Mary's on April 24.

John will play in any position he's asked. After recent appearances in goal he lined up in attack in last Wednesday's semi-finalagainst Otterbourne at Totton's Testwood Park ground.

He scored the late winner after chasing a long clearance up field.

"It was a great feeling and I was so pleased for the manager and the rest of the lads that we were on our way to the final. There's a great spirit and we all get on so well," he said.

Manager Paul Brown commented: "He'll always give his best where ever he's playing - and on Saturday, he was back in goal and he kept a clean sheet," said Romsey Town reserve team manager Paul Brown, who was quick to praise the whole side for their efforts.

He added: "It has been a great all-round team effort all the way through and the lads deserve to be in the final."

Romsey could have been in front earlier on the semi-final, with Justin Chapman and Pete Winkle both going close in the first-half and Chapman bringing the best out of the Otterbourne goalkeeper in the second-half.

On their way to St Mary's, Romsey have beaten Hamble Club 2-1, Winchester Castle 4-0 and Totton and Eling 4-0, after having the first game abandoned when they were 2-1 down.

And there was no hangover when the town second string got back to league action at the Bypass Ground on Saturday.

They beat Fawley 5-0 with goals from Oliver Crook, Justin Chapman, Eddie Carlin and own goal - and one from Mike Hookway, the club's first team goalkeeper who was out of first team action because of an injury and was on the bench for the reserves.