Gwent FA Amateur Cup Round One roundup

PORTSKEWETT and Sudbrook suffered the most painful exit in Round One of the Gwent FA Amateur Cup, losing 4-3 on penalties after matching North Gwent League outfit Llanhilleth Athletic goal for goal.

The score was 3-3 at 90 minutes and after a goal-less 30 minutes of extra time, the lottery of penalty shoot out settled it.

Chris Commins, whose goal earned extra time, said the two sides were well matched.

“We went one down to a penalty, Simon Hathaway equalised but we were 2-1 down at half time,” he said.

“They scored again but Shane Jeremiah pulled one back and I levelled it with just a few minutes to go.

“Extra time was pretty close but we battled really well in a much better display and penalties is a bit of a lottery anyway.”

Also through to the Round Two, due to be played on 11th November, are Underwood who won 4-3 at Race and Rockfield Rovers who beat County League Division Three high-fliers Rogerstone, but Severn Tunnel lost 7-0 at home to Division Two Brynmawr and Caldicot Castle went down 3-1 at Coed Eva Athletic, Richard Withey scoring for Castle.

Underwood boss Craig Johnson said the victory was the result of a change in team selection.

“Last week against Rumney, we made a few changes in our formation and we could see it made us stronger but we were just unlucky with one or two decisions.

“We kept it the same against Race and it worked with a man of the match performance from Sam Leighton whose step up to the first team has proved vital.”

Leighton, Jamie Richardson, Jahmal Johnson and David Rees were Underwood’s scorers.

They have another awayday in Round Two when they visit Cwm and Rovers travel to Crickhowell.

Mathern, Tintern Abbey and Thornwell all had byes in the first round,

Mathern entertain the winners of the Caerleon/Pill match while Tintern are drawn to visit Thornwell guaranteeing one local club will be in Round Three.

Bob Cypher