Blackrock Rovers 4 –

Cwmffrwdoer 4 (aet)

(Rovers won 3-0 on

penalties)

THREE penalty shoot-out saves by Blackrock Rovers keeper Jason Szmaglik earned his side a famous Gwent County League Challenge Cup third round win over Division 1 team Cwmffrwdoer at the weekend.

Szmaglik performed his heroics as Rovers chalked up a winning lead in the shootout through Ben Smith, Luke James and Kieron Nesbitt to delight manager Paul Lovell.

"It was a nail-biting climax to an entertaining yo-yo of a match," he said.

"We knew we faced an extremely difficult task so we decided on a change of formation and the plan was to by-pass the midfield.

"We took an early lead through Connor Bryant in a bright start but the visitors woke up and exerted a sustained period of pressure, and they equalised and then took the lead before half time.

"The wind was with us after the break and Ben Smith equalised but, as we pressed for a winner, we went behind to two well-taken goals.

"The players showed the pride and passion they have lacked in league games to score a third through Connor Bryant, to set up a nervy finish for the visitors.

"With five minutes remaining, Luke James scored the equaliser to take the game into extra time. Both sides had chances in extra time but some good defending ensured a penalty shootout."

Rovers, who are bottom of Division 2 can still escape relegation if they win their last three matches and the teams above them lose all theirs.

Cefn Forest are two places above and Sebastopol are three places above Rovers so their fate is still in their own hands.

Mathern FC join Rovers in the hat for the quarter-finals on Saturday 2nd May after they upset the form book by beating promotion-chasing Tredegar Athletic 2-1.

Athletic won 3-0 when they visited Mathern in February and when they took the lead in the first 10 minutes, it looked like Mathern were in for a torrid time.

But Luke Farley equalised from the spot 10 minutes later and soon after the start of the second half, Ieuan Diyaolu drilled his shot past the visitors' keeper from 15 yards.

Mathern dominated from then on and should have made the result more convincing.

"It was a great performance by the whole team," said manager Dean Thomas.

"We seem to be playing better against stronger opposition at the moment.

"Our defence was outstanding and the midfield dominated. 

"It was nice to have Ieuan back up front and he made a big difference going forward. We now have two big midweek games which will test the strength of our squad."