EAST GWENT SENIOR LEAGUE DIVISION 1 MATHERN WANDERERS 9 SEVERN TUNNEL NON POL A 0

BOTH teams aimed to put disappointing Gwent Amateur Cup defeats behind them but six first-half goals put Mathern Wanderers in the driving seat.

Mathern manager Gareth Moore, without the influential Ieuan Diyaolu in midfield, the dangerous Richard Wood and experienced defender Hywel Pugh, chose to include a couple of players from the club’s B team, resting younger players ahead of their under-18s match.

“They all performed well and I was pleased that one of those stepping up - Dan Tyler - managed to get himself on the score-sheet,” said Moore.

Meanwhile Tunnel’s Ron Atkins praised the performance of new signing, defender Lee Clarke.

“Lee did well, particularly against Mathern’s wingers, and he will be a very useful player for us,” he said.

Mathern top scorer Wayne Duffield opened their account when he collected a pass from Tommy Marmont and fired home.

Alex Bell doubled Mathern’s lead and then Shane Dash provided a pinpoint centre for Duffield to head his second.

At this point the home side were dominant and it was no surprise when, during another raid, they were awarded a penalty, defender Jeff Whitehouse shooting high over the bar.

A few minutes later Rob Wood wriggled through Tunnel’s defence to make it 4-0 and Whitehouse made up for his miss by scoring low inside a post.

Duffield thumped a 20-yard freekick against the bar but Tom Marmont collected the rebound to make it 6-0.

Tyler put himself on the scoresheet with a 25-yard half-volley and Duffield completed his hattrick, running on to a poor clearance and hammering the ball home, before Marmont completed the victory.