East Gwent Senior League Centenary Cup semi-final - Sudbrook CC 5 Chepstow Athletic 2

DIVISION Two champions Underwood B booked their place in the final of the Centenary Cup with a convincing victory at the weekend.

In the final, scheduled for Friday 14th April, they will play the title runners-up Sudbrook CC who eased through thanks to a fine Joe Whitehouse hat-trick and two penalties from Rob Thorn.

Played on the 3G at Caldicot Leisure Centre, both victors were most at home on the plastic pitch they have trained on throughout the season and although the opposition tried hard, the advantage was too great to overcome.

Athletic more than held their own in the first half but fell behind just before the break when Whitehouse scored his first, stabbing the ball home from a couple of yards out after Thorn’s shot rebounded off a post.

Despite the setback, Chepstow had shown enough in the first half to suggest they had the firepower and pace to cause Sudbrook problems.

But the turning point came on 50 minutes when Thorn was brought down in the penalty area resulting in a penalty award and a red card for the offender.

Thorn picked himself up and made it 2-0.

Whitehouse and Thorn were causing problems with their movement and speed, dragging defenders all over the field and leaving gaps that weren’t always exploited but which slowly wore down the resistance.

Athletic’s impressive striker Will Morgan reduced the deficit but Whitehouse completed his hat-trick and Thorn again stepped up to score from the spot after he was bundled over as he burst into the penalty area.

Luke Harris added Chepstow’s second in the last few minutes but it was far too late.

Athletic’s player-manager Jake Parkinson said he thought the red card was a little harsh but said he was pleased with his team’s performance.

“I was proud of every single one of our boys today but the red card was the turning point and it’s not easy to play 40 minutes with 10 men,” he said,

“I thought a penalty and yellow would have been sufficient punishment as he went for the ball but I’m not the ref.

“We matched a very good team in most aspects of the game but I was disappointed by the amount of times they got in behind us as we worked on that in training and we knew that was how they would play.

“Our front three Will Morgan, Luke Harris and Ryan Marchant gave everything and Kev Willock was great in the centre of the park at breaking things up - he had to move to centre half after the red and we missed his presence in there.

“Congratulations to Sudbrook and we wish them the best. We have another semi against Chepstow Town next week so we have to pick the boys up for that one.”