Benevolent Cup quarter finals

Caldicot Castle A 2 Severn Tunnel 2 (Castle won 4-2 on penalties)

CASTLE boss Joe O’Brien admitted his men were caught napping as visitors Severn Tunnel took the initiative, writes Bob Cypher.

“We started terribly and it wasn’t until we were two goals adrift that we started to play,” he said.

“We missed far too many headers and follow-up shots in the first half.

“I counted at least three headers we put over the bar from four yards out.”

O’Brien started the fight-back, firing home from 25 yards before Rick Woodland equalised with another long-range shot.

“I think we dominated the rest of the match but couldn’t find a winner in normal time,” he added.

Tunnel manager Ron Atkins saw it slightly differently, however.

“We had a weakened team with Tom Atkins, Jack Harrison and Marc Carter-Selwood all out,” he said.

“We knew we were the underdogs but I told the lads to go out and enjoy themselves.

“We had Paul Light in goal again and I think everyone watching was surprised when Tom Pickin stormed through and netted well in the 10th minute, and even more impressed when he added the second with a well-practised bicycle kick - it was a cracker!

“Paul was doing OK in goal, but even he would have been impressed by Woodland’s goal and he had no chance with it.

“He made some good saves but it went to penalties and we lost but I was proud of every one of my lads for the way they battled, especially man of the match Chris Taylor.”