Benevolent Cup Semi Finals - Underwood B 0 Underwood A 3

THREE second-half goals booked Underwood A’s place in next year’s Benevolent Cup final against Chepstow Town at Caldicot Leisure Centre.

The two Underwood teams produced a closely-fought encounter and, to a large extent, cancelled each other out in a goalless first half.

But despite the lack of goals, there was no lack of action and scoring chances with both keepers called upon to keep their teammates in the match.

The busiest was probably the B team’s keeper, Will Hobbs, who showed agility, anticipation and good handling to deny strikers Josh Downing and Dave Jackson.

At the other end of the pitch, Chris Jackson didn’t have an easy half and was called on to make a smart save from an Alex Ryall header, tipping it over the bar before diving low to his left to smother a shot by Sam Leighton.

However, after the break, the A team seemed to step up a gear or two and after Downing put them ahead, the relief was plain to see on the Division 1 side’s faces.

It may just be coincidence but they always seem to be stronger and more inventive in the second half of matches played on the 3G.

The lead was a blow for the B team but it didn’t faze them and they enjoyed their own moments of danger but found it difficult to penetrate a well-drilled and experienced defence with Justin Bidgood and Craig Owen in fine form.

Ironically, it was those two defenders who improved the lead, Bidgood prodding the ball over the line for the second and Owen emerging from a goalmouth scramble with the biggest grin of triumph after making it 3-0.

For a game played in a tough but fair spirit, it was a shame that Sam Leighton was sent off towards the end for a second yellow card offence.

Following the match, B team manager Craig Johnson said he was proud of his men and predicted there are still three trophies to play for.

“We may be out of this competition but we have two cups and the league to challenge for and I am confident we can push on from this and win the treble,” he said.

“It was a hard-fought battle in which we were the better team in the first half but unfortunately we couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net with keeper Chris Jackson pulling off two brilliant saves.

“We ran out of steam in the second half and the firsts took advantage by scoring twice from corners.

“We gave our all and I am proud of the performance my players put in. I couldn’t have asked for any more of them.”