Amateur Cup Round Three

Thornwell Red & White 2 Whiteheads (Risca) 0

WHAT a match! Probably the best those watching will see this season.

It had everything, goalmouth incidents, brilliant goalkeeping by an injured midfielder and committed players who were really going for it.

That was shown early on when Whiteheads keeper Warren Derraven dived bravely to snatch the ball, as Dan Hines was airborne trying to poke it past him.

Derraven, who usually plays centre midfield, was playing through the pain barrier, filling in for the visitors’ No 1 keeper.

“I broke my toe just over a week ago and our usual keeper has injured his back and is out until at least next month,” he said later.

“I will probably be in goal again if no-one else is available.”

A former firefighter, Derraven then revealed he could only play after a lot of medication.

“I couldn’t kick with the inside of my foot so I kept using my laces and I took a lot of painkillers before I started,” he added.

For 70 minutes, the teams went at it toe-to-broken toe and it always seemed likely that one goal would settle it.

There was skill aplenty, some crunching tackles and more than a few near misses, but Whiteheads' star was undoubtedly their keeper.

The draw originally gave home advantage to Whiteheads but as they share their pitch with Risca FC, they were forced to switch the game to Thornwell, proud owners of a 100 per cent record in the Monmouthshire Windows East Gwent League this season.

The clubs met each other while in the Gwent County League, but have strengthened their line-ups since being relegated and share ambitions to regain county league status. On this showing, they have a very good chance of doing so.

In the first half, both teams had their chances to take the lead but there was always a last-ditch tackle, a block or solid goalkeeping at both ends to maintain the deadlock.

It was one such tackle that cost Thornwell the services of Stephan Reynolds who was helped from the pitch at the end of the first half, Cameron Pritchard replacing him..

After half-time, the home side did shade it as far as chances were concerned and they even had the ball in the net but the 'goal' headed – and handed – home by centre back Andy Skuse was ruled out.

But Derraven, who impressed with his handling and kicking throughout, won a number of one-on-ones to deny Kenny Vidler, Rory Garey, Matt Divers and Dan Hines as Thornwell tightened the screw.

Derraven’s finest contribution came when Pritchard fired in a free kick that was bound for the net before the keeper dived full length to palm the ball away for a corner.

It took a moment of bravery by one of the smallest players on the pitch to break the deadlock, Hines launching himself between taller defenders and teammates alike to head the first.

The visitors’ manager immediately switched to a 3-5-2 formation in a bid to grab an equaliser but the gamble failed as Vidler shrugged off three defenders in the area, swivelled and scored the clincher.

Thornwell player Terry Woodward agreed that it had been a tight match.

“We had a couple of squandered chances but their keeper was superb all game making a few top saves. It was a very competitive game and it’s good to be in the next round,” he said.