Monmouthshire Windows

Benevolent Cup semi-finals

THORNWELL Red & White A and Monmouth Town booked their places in the final with fine performances and high-quality goals, writes Bob Cypher.

At Thornwell, three goals settled the tie, two for Red & White and one for Caldicot Castle, while Monmouth Town twice came from a goal down to triumph 3-2 at Undy Athletic.

The game at Thornwell was never a classic but always interesting, with neither team able to dominate their opponents.

Tudor Morgan-Huggett put Thornwell ahead, diving full-length at the far post to nod the ball home after good work on the left by his twin brother Tyler.

The goal stung Castle and player-manager Joe O’Brien equalised with a perfectly-executed bicycle kick which flew past keeper Jordan Doyle.

But Wayne Duffield won it with a long-range shot which looped over Castle keeper Dave Hayward’s desperate attempt to tip it over the bar.

Later, Duffield, who is in a rich vein of goal-scoring form, denied it was a “hit-and-hope” goal.

“ I'd be lying if I said I spotted him (Hayward) off his line but I wouldn't say it was a hit and hope!

“It sat up nicely and I know where the goal is so I smashed it and it went in.

“It was a good battle and I thought we deserved the win.”

That opinion was confirmed by a bitterly-disappointed O’Brien.

“I’m gutted! Sometimes you can play badly and scab a win but today I felt they edged it,” he said after the final whistle.

“They took their chances well and apart from the goal I scored we didn't create enough.

“I ran out of ideas and take full blame for the result.

“All credit to Thornwell I hope they go on to win it now because they deserve it.

“They are the team that push us to be successful so I hope they get the trophy they deserve.

“I also hope we put this right in the league now and beat them in the two remaining fixtures we have against them.”

Meanwhile, at Undy, Monmouth Town manager Paul Perella said he was proud of the character his Division 2 outfit had shown.

“We had most of the play in the first half but the last pass was just off,” he said

“Right on half-time Undy broke down the right and crossed the ball, and our centre half slipped giving Undy an easy chance.

“At half time, I told the boys to keep going as I felt there were goals for us if we could get the final pass right.

“A corner by Fin Thorp and a great header by our captain Larsson Brown at the back post gave us the equaliser but Undy again capitalised on a mistake at the back to restore their lead."

Perrella said he and co-manager Richard Thorp changed formation and pushed an extra attacker upfront, a move which paid off when Jacob Perrella scored a great goal, side footing past the keeper from a cross by George Antony with six minutes left.

Town keeper Josh Ellis made a fine save to keep his team in the game and in the final minute Kyron Smith slammed in the winner after Fin Thorp’s shot was blocked.

“We hung on into injury time for a great result," the manager added.

“Richard and I are proud of the lads for the way they kept battling.”