Blaenavon Blues Thirds win the Benevolent Cup

Blues came into the game more in hope than expectation after losing 8-0 and 5-0 to Tranch B in the league games, but the final proved to be so very different.

With the Thursdays pitch in excellent condition and being one of the largest pitches in the area, there appeared to be lots of space for the Blues' young team.

Captained by Kyran Bould (21) the Blues definitely had the better of the first 15 minutes, creating a decent chance for Gazza Priest who fired over.

A delightful move saw Dylan Mason one-on-one with the Tranch keeper but Dylan pulled his shot wide. Gazza Priest had to come off with a re-occurrence of a hamstring problem and was replaced by Rhys Davies.

The first goal in any final is always vital and it was the Blues who grabbed it. Good movement saw Ellis Richards put through on goal and from an acute angle he fired in at the near post.

A few minutes later the Blues could have perhaps put a real gap between them and Tranch but an excellent goal line save by the Tranch keeper and a goal line battle saw the ball finally cleared. That's the way it stayed until half time. Blaenavon Blues Thirds 1 Tranch B 0.

Tranch had really not found their normal game during the first half but had to push forward to try to get back into the match. The Blues, playing naturally a more defensive game, found themselves pinned back in their own half for most of the half.

Jason Blanchford at the heart of the Blues defence, with captain Kyran, had quite brilliant games, and with Josh Preece and Harvey Philpott as fullbacks, the Blues put in a formidable defensive display.

But without question the man of the match was Ewan Blount in the Blues goal. Whenever Tranch broke through Ewan performed heroically to keep Blues in front.

With 15 minutes left, Tranch finally made the pressure tell with an inswinging corner being forced over the line. Blues Thirds 1 Tranch B 1.

With ten minutes left, the Blues' midfield was still running and, despite the big pitch and the hot day, veteran Steve Richards, Kyle Richards, Ben Dando and Rhys Davies still were fully committed. Dylan Mason and Ellis Richards up front were still battling for every ball and playing some delightful hold up play.

With Tranch still having the better of the play they found Ewan in the Blues goal in excellent form.

The Blues survived, still 1-1 and it was extra time.

The size of the pitch, the hot weather and the pressure of the final was beginning to take its toll and the players were all feeling it. Blues subs Mike Weenik and George Edwards had come on to replace the injured captain Kyran and Harvey Philpott, who had run himself into the ground.

The two subs had a huge influence with fresh legs and some quite outstanding defensive qualities they made a real impact and that helped the Blues as they managed to create a couple of real chances. One in particular, a move between Rhys and Dylan, saw an excellent shot form Ellis Richards tipped over the bar by the Tranch keeper.

Then, with only five minutes left of the second half of extra time and penalties looming, a tackle by the otherwise excellent Jason Blanchford saw a penalty awarded to Tranch. The game was surely over for the Blues, and the season.

With the pressure on, Ewan held his ground and saved the penalty. But the drama wasn't over. With two minutes left, another goalmouth scramble saw a powerful shot from within the six yard box. Ewan threw himself to the right to push the ball up and over the bar, an incredible stop for such a close range effort and the Blues' season finale went to penalties.

Each team selected their five penalty takers and the fans gathered behind the goal in front of the grandstand. Up stepped Blues' first penalty taker, Dylan Mason. Dylan hit the penalty just wide. Tranch scored. Tranch 1-0. Jason stepped up to take the second for Blues, but again the penalty was just wide. Blues had missed the first two penalties and it looked all over for them. But the second Tranch penalty saw Ewan make an excellent save, as the ball was driven down the middle and he pushed the shot over the bar. Belief flowed through the Blues as Josh Preece and then Rhys Davies scored, and Ewan saved the next two Tranch penalties. All Blues had to do was score with their last penalty. Ewan had saved three consecutive penalties. Manager Steve Richards stepped up to the spot and placed his shot in the corner and the Blues players, squad and fans went mad, with everyone hugging goal scorer Steve and the man-of-the-match Blues keeper, Ewan Blount.

A fantastic end to the Blaenavon Blues Thirds season and there was definitely a tear in the eye of manager Steve Richards as he held his own trophy and the Benevolent Cup in the air and named Blaenavon's Ewan Blount as man of the final.