Pandy do league proud in cup (From Free Press Series)

Pandy do league proud in cup

It's competition time in the Gwent Central League now with the various cups reaching their semi-final stage. Pride of place at present must go to Second Division Pandy who represented the league in the final of the Gwent County Football Association Inter-League Cup against the MBS Newport & District League side, Pioneer.

Pandy took the cup by winning the final 3-2. Chris Morgan gave Pandy an early lead in the 17th minute. Pandy went 2-0 up through a goal by Michael Smith from the penalty spot, and just before half time Christopher Jones pulled a goal back for Pioneer. Pioneer levelled the scores with Christopher Jones' second. In the last quarter of an hour of the match Richard McCarthy scored to give the cup to Pandy. MOM Steven Wedlock of Pandy.

Govilon played local rivals Clydach Wasps in the P&P Pest Control Open Cup semi-final at Pen-y-Pound Stadium. Both sides observed a minutes silence for Mr Keith Williams Asst/Sec of Govilon FC. Govilon established a 3-0 half time lead. Clydach Wasps appeared to restrict Govilon to just three shots at goal in the first half but Dean Morgan (2) and James Powell netted. In the second half James Powell scored his second and Govilon's fourth and Jordan Jones pulled a goal back for the Wasps.

In the other semi-final Blaenavon Blues beat Usk Town 3-2. Karl Hooper put the Blues 1-0 up. Danial Bevan put Usk Town on level terms. Bevan scored his second to put Usk Town 2-1 up. Usk Town held their advantage until Lee Freeman scored for the Blues in the 80th minute. The semi-final went into extra time and Lee Freeman scored the Blues winner in the 115th minute. Govilon will play Blaenavon Blues in the final.

Lower New Inn won their way into the final of the A Jones & Co Usk Ltd Langdon Cup with a 3-2 victory over Govilon. The match was played at PILCS FC. All three Lower New Inn goals were scored by Tim Lane with one coming from the penalty spot. Andrew Spiers and Shaun Morgan scored for Govilon.

In the other Langdon Cup semi-final a show-piece goal in the second half by Ian Rosser gave Goytre a 1-0 win over Tranch Utd. Goytre will now play Lower New Inn in the final.

There were second leg games played in the Free Press Cup First Round. Pontypool Town B visited neighbours PILCS and won 4-2 to go through 5-3 on aggregate. Pontypool B scorers were Jason Stokes, Kevin Rogers and Wayne Dash. PILCS' two goals came from two Pontypool own goals by Karl Crook and Dafydd George.

Pandy beat Sebastopol to go through 11-2 on aggregate. Scorers for Pandy were Kirk Morgan, Richard McCarthy and Chris Morgan.

Usk Town B lost 5-1 away to Llanfoist in their first leg but in the second leg, played on Usk Island, Usk B turned the tables around and won 6-1 so Usk B goes through 7-6 on aggregate. Scorers for Usk B were Steve Wade (2), Rhys Pritchard, Ben Willis, Sean Taylor and Martyn Latham. Robert Didcote scored for Llanfoist.

Crickhowell beat New Inn 4-3 to go through 6-3 on aggregate. Crickhowell scorers were Matthew Stevens (2), Paul Brown and Matthew Groves. New Inn scorers were Dean Jones, Simon Duggan and Billy Day. There is a league enquiry on the first and second legs matches.

The Gilwern B v Mardy B second leg turned out to be a thriller. Gilwern B won the first leg 3-2, but in the second leg at Gilwern Mardy won 11-10. At the end of 90 minutes Mardy led 3-2 giving an aggregate score of 5-5, after extra time the score stayed the same. Penalties came into play and each side scored five apiece and then Mardy B won in sudden death. Aber Thursdays played host to Clydach B in the second leg match.

Thursdays lost the first 5-1 but won the second leg 2-0. Clydach B went through 5-3 on aggregate. Scorers for Thursdays were Justin Swain and Ben Moriarty.

Two days later three games were played in the quarter finals. Pontypool Town B lost 4-3 at home to Fairfield Utd who led 2-1 at half time. Fairfield Utd scorers were Steve Smith (2), Daley Whitcombe plus a penalty goal from John Jenkins. Pontypool Town B scorers were Kevin Rogers, Wayne Nash and Chris Dayton. Fairfield Utd's semi-final opponents will be known after a league enquiry into their opponent's games.

Usk Town B kept up their winning ways with a 9-2 home win on the Island over Mardy B. Scorers for Usk Town B were Steve Wade (4), Jeremy Barton (2), Sean Taylor, Pat Wong and Scott Lauder. Both the Mardy B goals were scored by Sean Cheal.

Clydach Wasps B had a 4-2 home win over Llanarth B but it was Llanarth who led Clydach B 2-1 at half time. Scorers for Clydach B were Jordan Powell, Nathan Wall, Kyle Cheshire and Damian Miles.

Usk Town B will play Clydach Wasps B in the semi-final. One game took place in Division One. Pontypool Town had a 0-0 home draw with Goytre.