Gwent County League Amateur Cup

Mathern FC 3 Wattsville FC 1

MATHERN FC secured their place in the second round of the Amateur Cup with a 3-1 home win over Division Three leaders Wattsville.

The home side took the lead through Wayne Duffield and increased it through an own goal although Mathern’s Luke Farley maintained he had applied the final touch.

Wattsville were given a foothold in the match soon after the break with a penalty described by team boss Colin Jeffery as “soft” and renewed their hopes of equalising.

“It was given for hand ball in the area but as the player penalised was turning away from the shot when the ball hit his arm, I think it was very harsh,” Jeffery said.

Despite close shaves at both ends, the score stayed at 2-1 right until injury time when Wattsville’s keeper was adjudged to have carried the ball outside his area. Mark Organ stepped up to fire his free-kick low into the corner to earn Mathern a home tie against West of St Julians in the next round on 5th December.

Jeffery even put himself on as a sub after his son Billy limped off.

“I always put my name on the team sheet, just in case,” 50-year-old Jeffery senior explained.

“I went up front so I could give Elliot Greening, who was carrying an injury, a rest.

“This was our ninth game unbeaten but now the players have to get back into league mode because we have a tough visit to Cwm this Saturday.”