Fishwick Cup - Sudbrook CC 3 Mathern Wanderers B 5 (From Free Press Series)

Fishwick Cup - Sudbrook CC 3 Mathern Wanderers B 5

12:10pm Tuesday 26th February 2013 in Sport

East Gwent Senior League - Fishwick Cup Sudbrook CC 3 Mathern Wanderers B 5 (aet - 2-2 after 90mins)

THE lure of a Wembley Cup Final meant a weakened Sudbrook CC team faced a confident Mathern Wanderers B side at the weekend.

Sudbrook manager Gary Vaughan had been forced to name himself on the team sheet because a number of his squad had gone to Wembley to watch the Capital One League Cup Final between Swansea City and Bradford City.

“I didn’t have much choice in the matter,” Vaughan said. “We weren’t at our best today but I’m expecting to have them all back for the next match.”

Mathern boss Lee Baker revealed he had also lost three or four players and had asked some of his players to take on unfamiliar roles.

Despite the absentees, there didn’t seem a lot wrong with Mathern’s set-up as they took a 2-0 lead.

First Gary Baker hit a great 20-yard free kick over the defensive wall and high into the net and then Sammy Davies doubled their lead from the penalty spot after Sudbrook keeper Neil Richards reacted to a high challenge on him and grabbed the offender.

After the keeper was given a stern lecture from referee Mark Pring, Davies stepped up to put the penalty away and Mathern appeared to be in cruise mode.

But Sudbrook are not Division 2 pacemakers for nothing and two long throws by Stuart Cochrane caused panic in the Mathern penalty area and Gareth Huntley pounced on both occasions to level the score at the break.

Despite close calls at either end, there was no further score which meant extra time.

Mathern regained the lead when a deep cross to the far post by James Burchill put Davies in for his second and minutes later he complete his hat-trick to restore Mathern’s two-goal cushion.

In the second period of extra time, Colin Jeffery picked up a loose ball and struck a fine goal from around 30 yards but Huntley completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot to make the final score 5-3.

Manager Baker was full of praise for his team but singled out midfielder Dan Chappell, who played in the unfamiliar centre back role.

“Dan was outstanding today,” he said. “Gary Baker led from the back with a solid performance, Colin Jeffrey pulled the strings in midfield and Sam Davies was my man of the match.

“We knew if we kept the outstanding Richard Lund quiet and held a high defensive line their midfield would struggle with our passing game.

“After going 2-0 up it was very disappointing to concede two very sloppy goals from long throws but we learned our lesson and I’m delighted with the result.”