Monmouthshire Windows East Gwent League CCL Centenary Cup Final - Severn Tunnel 1 Mathern FC 3

TWO opportunist goals by striker Keiron Gettings gave Mathern a second cup victory of the season.

Gettings struck the first just before half time when his persistence gave him the chance to lob Tunnel keeper Cory Delap from the edge of the penalty area.

Until that moment, honours had been fairly even with neither team able to impose themselves on their opponent.

At half time, the general topic of conversation was whether Tunnel would score next but Mathern’s defence stood firm and again there were no real periods of domination enjoyed by either team.

Scoring chances were created but wasted or gobbled up by Delap and his counterpart Dean Harris.

Gettings’ second goal came after he chased a through-ball and managed to prod it past the onrushing keeper as he attempted to clear.

Mathern were without three of the team that edged out Caldicot Town a week earlier but manager Simon Bajjada had a strong squad to choose from.

“I gave other squad members a start knowing I had Ryan Palmer, Ash Pearce and Callum England to bring on if I needed to,” he said.

It was England who scored Mathern’s third goal after a shot was parried to him 15 yards out,

But Tunnel were not to be denied a goal – and what a goal it was!

Earlier, Harris had dived full length to his left to push a net-bound free kick around the post and when Tom Atkins stepped up to take a second a few minutes later, the keeper might have expected a similar strike.

But Atkins hit a superb goal over the “wall” to find the top corner. Harris managed to get a hand to the ball but was unable to repeat his heroics.

After the final whistle and the presentations, experienced player and referee Carl Arthur, who named Gettings as Man of the Match, explained his decision.

“Keiron’s goals came at key moments in the game and his all-round work-rate was excellent throughout,” he said.

“He was the difference so the decision was easy to make!”

Bob Cypher