Amateur Cup preview

CUP ties are set to dominate fixtures this Saturday (2nd January) but the draw sees three local sides needing a win away if they are to progress.

Underwood SC A will travel to Ponthir, Caldicot Castle must win at FC Tredegar while Mathern FC are away at Neuadd Wen.

Despite the draws, against tough opposition from a higher league and division in two cases, the managers of all three clubs are confident they can cause a ‘cupset’.

Underwood manager Craig Johnson says his men are eager to continue their cup run. He has organised a training session for tonight (Wednesday 30th December) to give the players a chance to shake off the effects of too much turkey, Christmas pudding and, of course, the odd glass or two of Christmas spirit!

“The players are looking forward to this game with a greater hunger and desire than I’ve seen before,” Johnson said.

“We have our full squad available so we have a very good chance of going through.

“It’s going to be a tough game against a Gwent County League Division Three side, but I’ll make sure we are on top of our game after Christmas.”

Ponthir are in the same league and division as Castle but the local men have a tough task to beat a team who are going for a double success – promotion to Division One as well as the Amateur Cup.

Yet Castle are also in the mix for their own spot of promotion and, in Joe O’Brien, they have a striker who has proved he knows the way to goal.

Their manager Alex Hart is also enthusiastic about their chances at Tredegar.

“We have a couple of injuries within our midfield but we have Jake Withy coming back after long-term injury,” Hart said.

“Playing a team in a division above us will be a good challenge, especially away.

”I know they’re a good team. They beat Sudbrook CC in the last round but their league form is varied.

“We are looking forward to expressing ourselves in a match where there is no pressure on us. It should be a good game.”

Mathern already know their task at Neuadd Wen will be no stroll in the park, especially as they lost 1-0 at home to them earlier in the season.

Since then Mathern have been on a 12-match unbeaten run, which only ended a week before Christmas, and the players are determined to make up for the glitch with an away win.

The Amateur Cup ties kick off at 1.30pm.