The decision by the East Gwent Senior League to schedule the second Benevolent Cup semi-final for this Tuesday has disappointed one team and severely affected team selection for their opponents.

Division 2 side Mathern Wanderers B – who won the Fishwick Cup last Friday – had hoped to parade their trophy at the A team’s final match on Tuesday, when the Division 1 trophy was due to be presented.

And the manager of their opponents, Blackrock Rovers, says he will lose players due to work commitments.

“Mathern B have got to be favourites,” Taylor said.

“I've watched them play and know they have a good mixture of youth and experience.

With it being a midweek game we have lost three players already because of work commitments.

“Despite that, I predict a very tight game that will go to the wire.”

Taylor had seen his men lose 4-1 at Severn Tunnel NP A despite taking the lead in the first half.

“We were solid in the first half but the second half sums up our season. Our confidence slipped after Tunnel equalised and we lost our grip and they deserved to win.”

His opposite number, Ron Atkins described the match as “a good game to watch.”

“Our scorers were Nathan Wheeler, Callum Wheeler and a screamer from Chris Owram,” he said.

Atkins, who currently has a triple role at the club – managing both A and B teams and occasionally playing for the B team - also said he was disappointed at comments criticising him for strengthening the second team with first-teamers.

“I had to remind the critics that some clubs use players from their Gwent County side to strengthen their teams.

“We can’t do that but if the A team isn’t playing, I am happy to include one or two of their players in the B team. We did it recently and my lad Tom scored a hat-trick to gain three points in a 4-3 victory over Red & White.

“Some of the older Thornwell players congratulated us at the end of the match.”

Ron also lined up with the B team against Castle B – a team he describes as “my favourite adversaries.”

“Our 10 troops faced their 14 but as soon as the whistle went, our boys were out of the trenches, ready for the fight,” he remembered.

“At 5-0 down we scored through Gary Ware and Pete Edwards but that only made Castle mad and they really went to town, scoring another 11. But I’m proud of the brave effort the team put in.”