Gwent FA Amateur Cup

Round 1

Thornwell Red & White A 4 Severn Tunnel 2

THORNWELL booked a place in the second round but it wasn’t as easy as the score suggests, writes Bob Cypher.

Tunnel arrived with a depleted team but that didn’t stop them taking the lead twice against a Thornwell side who manager Richard Jones admitted lacked a “killer instinct”.

Dan Griffiths scored Tunnel's goals - one in each half - but Thornwell didn’t panic and the introduction of Rob Wood at the start of the second half proved to be the game-changer.

Wood’s pace on the right flank caused problems, culminating in him being brought down for a penalty and giving Tunnel’s tired team little hope.

Griffiths’ first goal rocked Thornwell momentarily but Jay Guscott equalised before the break.

A second Griffiths goal, poked home from close range, put Tunnel ahead for the second time soon after the break.

The lead was short-lived however as Wayne Duffield headed the equaliser.

Thornwell took the lead for the first time midway through the second half when Guscott steered the ball home after his brother Ryan’s shot rebounded off a post.

Thornwell made further changes and the introduction of fresh legs proved vital, Duffield scoring his second from the spot after Wood was brought down.

Both teams produced a good cup-tie but, as Thornwell’s boss conceded later, his men failed to make the most of their chances in the first half.

“We were on top but lacked the killer instinct in the final third,” Jones said.

“Credit to Severn Tunnel for digging in and leading twice and we were always playing catch-up, but in the last 25 minutes we were fitter.

“They put 10 men behind the ball and it took a lot for us to break them down.

“Rob Wood was a game-changer and Jimmy Boulter was superb throughout, alongside our captain Rory Garey, who was filling in at centre-half.”

Tunnel’s skipper Nathan Wheeler agreed his team were under-strength.

“We only had 10 players this morning with eight out injured or suspended and our keeper Kyle McCabe was playing with an injury so it was a very depleted team,” he said.

“Towards the end, it was about legs really, playing against a good team without substitutes to freshen it up.

"It was always going to be tough but the Amateur Cup isn’t our main focus this season - our commitment is to the league campaign.”

Thornwell will entertain Fairfield United in Round Two on November 16th.

Other East Gwent League sides involved on that day will be Caldicot Castle A who travel to Ponthir and Portskewett & Sudbrook who welcome Garnlydan.

Both local sides were given a bye in the First Round draw.