Skenfrith earn cup victory (From Free Press Series)

Skenfrith earn cup victory

Fowhope 0 Skenfrith United 1

FORMER Ross Cup winners Skenfrith United are hoping they can add to their trophy cabinet this year with another cup final win.

Assistant coach Nick Oxford said he would be delighted if the club could repeat their cup final win of 2001 with another victory this season.

And with United lying an impressive third in the Division Two of the Herefordshire League Oxford said promotion was also an outside chance too.

It's a remarkable turn-around in form for the village side who just two months earlier had been contemplating a fight with relegation come January. Instead an unbeaten run of form marred by just the odd slip has seem them push themselves up the table as the undoubted in-form team to beat.

On Saturday, despite missing chief marksman Darren Bontej up front, United did the league and cup double over relegation certainties Fowhope with a 1-0 win in the Ross B Cup.

The victory followed United's 4-0 thrashing the week before at home to Fowhope who were out done by a sweetly taken Bontej hat trick and smart Brendan Oliver strike.

Oliver repeated his consistent goal scoring form with the winner on Saturday as United's rise from down-and-outs to championship contenders continued in dominant style.

"It would be nice to go on and win a cup now," admitted Skennie starlet Oxford. "There's no reason why we can't go all the way in the Ross Cup. The HFA Cup though is a much more difficult competition to win purely because there are a lot more Division One side's competing in it. With both though luck of the draw will play a big part," he added.

Speaking on United's remarkable push for promotion he said: "We would be more than happy to finish third because that could prove enough for promotion. We still have to play Kingston and Allpay who are above us so it's not over yet. We'll certainly fancy ourselves in those games if we can play at our best.

"I never envisaged us being in this position two months ago. Back then we were talking about having one of our worst ever seasons. It's a pity we couldn't keep the side together for every game because I think we would have walked it. I nice steady side without all those injuries would have been ideal."

United face Orleton in the HFA Cup this Saturday with a place in the Quarter Finals up for grabs.

"We'll have a reasonable side for that game so I'm hoping we'll do well," said Oxford.

The match kicks off at 2pm.