Fishwick Cup Semi-Finals - Mathern Reserves B 5 Chepstow Town 4

BROTHERS in arms combined to cap a remarkable comeback as three sets of siblings booked Mathern Reserves B’s place in this year’s Fishwick Cup final.

Tom Marmont’s 88th-minute goal sealed the victory for his brother Sam who captained the side, earlier goals were scored by Rob and Rich Wood while Alex and Matt Bajjada played a significant part in two others.

But when Chepstow Town rattled in three unanswered goals through Matt Owen, Nick Owen and Peter North in the first-half, there was no sign of the drama to come. Even when Rob Wood reduced the arrears with a fine individual effort just after the restart, an unfortunate own goal restored their three-goal advantage.

By then, Mathern manager Jeff Whitehouse had made two substitutions and changed the whole dynamic of his team.

He had been without Tom Collins in the first half because of work commitments and his absence unbalanced the side.

Collins had been the star performer when Mathern beat Town in a league match last month, but once he joined the fray, he brought an extra urgency to their game.

Whitehouse also sent on young winger Matt Bajjada and his speed and trickery down the left flank troubled Town’s defence and set up a goal for Richard Wood before Mathern were awarded a penalty that Harry Ward quickly converted.

Trailing 4-3, Mathern were definitely in the ascendancy and Ward sent Mathern’s supporters wild when he finished decisively to level with just 10 minutes to go.

With players from Sudbrook CC and Severn Tunnel B arriving to warm up for the second semi final, league officials feared extra time and a penalty might be needed to decide the result.

But another fine move down the left ended with Marmont firing into an unguarded net.

Later, Whitehouse agreed Town’s third and fourth goals had given him nervous moments.

“Town came at us quickly from the off and we conceded a couple of poor goals but I always thought we would finish stronger,” he added.

“Their third goal just before the break was a killer but we felt we could score and when we did with Rob’s great goal, I thought ‘okay, let’s go’.

“The own goal was a real setback but there was half an hour to go and I knew the players would make chances.”

“Tom Collins bossed the midfield and young Matt Bajjada was fantastic. I’m so proud to manage these lads but my man of the match was someone a little older – Harry Ward for all his hard work.”

Whitehouse takes his men to Caldicot Town’s Jubilee Park this Friday (April 8th) where they will face Underwood SC B in the Centenary Cup final, kick-off 6.30pm.

In the second Fishwick Cup semi-final, two goals by Richard Lund and one from Zak Hitchens sealed a place in the final for Sudbrook CC at the expense of Severn Tunnel B.

Both teams cancelled each other out in the first half with neither able to make the breakthrough but when substitutes Richard Lee and Jake Williams came on after 70 minutes, they made a difference and gave their side the edge.