Skennie claim cup victory (From Free Press Series)

Skennie claim cup victory

SKENFRITH manager Paul Brown has dangled a mouth-watering carrot in front his players - promotion to the Herefordshire League First Division.

But he warned them they'll only achieve that goal if certain players in the side pull their socks up, and stop finding excuses to get out of games on a Saturday.

On Saturday, United battled away for this 2-1 cup victory at Orleton, their first ever win away from home to their arch derby foes.

The best result Skennie had mustered before was a draw, but fielding his desired first eleven, Brown felt a cup win was there for the taking.

Still, despite United's healthy league position, Brown admitted he has been less than impressed with the number of players turning up on match day.

For much of the season he has been without a full squad, partly because of injury, though mostly because of unacceptable absentees.

Now Brown wants a change in attitude, so that his players can realise their potential. "It's there for them. As long as they keep giving their Saturday's up and stop the feeble excuses, we can do it," assured Brown.

Speaking of the cup win, which puts them into the quarter-finals, he said: "We put a ghost to rest out there. It was the first time we had beaten them on their own soil.

"They do put up a strong team on their own ground and they were solid. We were strong at the back, though, and in midfield."

Brown must have thought United's bogey run at Orleton was set to continue, when man-of-the-match for the past two weeks, Andrew Morris, was forced off with a recurring knee injury, leaving a massive void in the midfield.

David Ellias was switched back from striker, while Darren Bontej was brought on upfront alongside Brendan Oliver.

It proved to be decisive, as Bontej grabbed United's first with a wonderful Thierry Henry-style free kick, that caught the Orleton defence and keeper napping, to sail unchallenged into the net.

Experienced captain Richard McDonald proved just as vital, as he bossed the midfield. "Richard turned up the heat when we needed it. He mixed it up and made them lose their patience and put our game on top," said Brown.

Orleton did equalise with a rough and tumble goal in a tightly populated goal area, but new signing Alex Riddle came off the bench to make a dream debut, when he headed in the ball from close range, after the keeper had parried away Bontej's bullet-like shot.

United face a tough home league game this Saturday against White-heads, who beat Orleton 4-2 earlier in the season.

"We will need to contain them. Our centre half Ian Jones will have to sit on their striker, because he's so dangerous. The rest will have to tidy up.

'I'll probably have Nick Oxford playing sweeper in their too," said Brown.

On Saturday, Skenfrith kick-off the important game against Whiteheads at 2.30pm.