Monmouthshire Windows

Benevolent Cup Quarter Final preview

CUP holders Caldicot Castle A face tough opponents this Saturday if they are to continue their bid to retain it, writes Bob Cypher.

Castle lifted the cup after beating Thornwell Red & White A on penalties in last season’s final and will need to be on top form against Severn Tunnel if they are to progress to the semi finals.

Having beaten and drawn with Tunnel in league matches this season, the tie is likely to be the tightest of the quarter-finals.

It will also see two strikers in top form at the moment go head-to-head - Castle player/manager Joe O’Brien and Tunnel’s top scorer Tom Atkins.

O’Brien heads the goal-scoring table with 14 in all competitions and Atkins is second with 10, so it’s likely to be a lively cup tie.

Beaten finalists Thornwell must play their Amateur Cup tie at Aberbargoed on Saturday following its cancellation due to the weather last weekend.

That, in turn, has meant their equally tough trip to Iscoed Tafarn in the Benevolent Cup will be put on hold until the new year.

Unusually, there are three Division 2 teams in the draw, with table-toppers Sudbrook CC keen to take on Division 1’s Undy Athletic, while Portskewett & Sudbrook entertain Monmouth Town, which will ensure at least one team from the lower division will feature in the semi-finals.