Monmouthshire Windows East Gwent League

Fishwick Cup quarter final

Caldicot Castle B 4 Thornwell Red & White B 2

TWO goals by Connor Bryant and a fine penalty save by Ian Cross helped ease Castle into the semi finals at the weekend, writes Bob Cypher.

After Castle’s second pitch was ruled unfit due to recent rain, the first team pitch was commandeered for the cup tie.

Both teams enjoyed brief possession in the first half without exerting any dominance and defences were defiant until, with half-time looming, Kyle Gettings fired the visitors into the lead.

Castle came out with a lot more purpose for the second half and the equaliser came through James Reid after a good move involving strike partner Connor Bryant.

It was Bryant who put Castle ahead for the first time, scoring with a low drive which caught keeper Matthew Pearce off balance.

Pearce then redeemed himself, tipping a goal-bound shot from Reid around a post before Chris Butcher made it 3-1.

Thornwell had a great chance to reduce the arrears from the spot but Castle keeper Ian Cross dived full length to his left to push the ball for a corner.

With Matt Divers and Neil Brown joining the front men for corners and free kicks, it looked likely that Thornwell would score again but Bryant grabbed his second, running onto a long ball and finishing well as Pearce came out to narrow the angle.

The visitors sent on Zak Hitchens to operate upfront with Gettings and it was he who scored late on to make it 4-2.

After the match Thornwell boss Keith Tipper said missed chances in the first half had proved costly.

“We had enough chances to have been well ahead by the break, but we didn’t take them and we paid the price,” he said.

In the other three quarter finals, Chepstow Town beat Portskewett & Sudbrook 3-2, Sudbrook CC beat Chepstow Athletic 7-3 and Monmouth Town won 6-1 at Raglan.