Gwent County League Challenge Cup - Blackrock Rovers 0 Mathern FC 3

BLACKROCK Rovers boss Paul Lovell described his side’s cup defeat as “disappointing but not disastrous”.

“It gave some of our fringe players a chance to state their case for inclusion in the starting line-up and gave me an insight into the character of some players,” he said.

With influential defender Jamie Green missing through injury and regular goalkeeper Jason Szmaglik unavailable, Rovers were always going to be up against it but they offered stubborn resistance to their Division 2 opponents restricting them to a one-goal lead for most of the first 70 minutes.

Mathern haven’t found goals easy to come by this season and after Luke Farley gave them the lead, heading Mark Organ’s right wing cross past stand-in keeper Richard Beach, they created and wasted a number of opportunities to increase their lead.

Time after time, Rovers’ defence broke up flowing moves with Dan Drake, Elliot Greening and Organ in the thick of the action.

At the back, Andrew Skuse and Adam Morrissey restricted Rovers’ strikers to a handful of half-chances although one shot soon after half time saw Mathern’s young keeper Jacob Tyson gratefully watch the ball curl past a post.

It was only in the final 20 minutes as Rovers’ overworked defence tired, that Organ turned from provider to scorer with two good finishes.

“We were under pressure right from the start as Mathern were quick out of the blocks and had us on the back foot from the first whistle,” Lovell added.

“We lacked a bit of pace in midfield and as a consequence we tried to pack the midfield to contain them but they were too clever for that and soon took the lead.

“We changed formation shortly after the first goal, which for a time meant we were competing better, however, as the game wore on we tired and two goals in the latter stages compounded our defeat. It was disappointing but not disastrous.”

Lovell’s opposite number Colin Jeffery described his team’s performance as solid and added that some players who had not performed in previous matches, stepped up to the plate for this local derby.

“We played some great football again, worked really well for each other and those who have not been at their best recently, gave excellent accounts of themselves.

“That makes my job really difficult for selection because we are unbeaten in four games, with three clean sheets, and playing well.

“I hope we can continue with the progress next week at Ynysddu.”