Round Two 

GOALKEEPER Oli Aleman was the hero as Gwent County League Division 2's Mathern FC edged out local rivals Blackrock Rovers 4-3 on penalties.

Mathern had to come from behind twice, in normal time and extra time, to force the shoot-out in which Aleman earned manager Dean Thomas' Man-of-the-Match award, saving two Blackrock penalties and scoring one.

It was an exciting end to "a good, hard local cup-tie" as Rovers manager Paul Lovell described it.

"Hard tackling and the will-to-win was evident from both sides," he said.

"We fell behind after a misplaced back-pass but this spurred us on and we belied our current form by forcing an equaliser by Luke James and then took the lead with a superb goal from Sam Watkins."

Despite the setback, Mathern scored a late equaliser to take the tie into extra time.

"We scored twice through Ben Smith and Connor Bryant to lead 4-2 but Mathern reduced the deficit in the second period of extra time before scoring a last-minute equaliser to force the shoot-out," added Lovell.

"The equaliser came with seconds left," explained Thomas. "We had all of the possession but Rovers hit us on the counter-attack.

"Richard Wood scored a hat-trick and Luke Farley grabbed the other but Oli put us through."

In the other ties involving local sides, Rockfield Rovers beat visiting Croesyceiliog 2-0 and Severn Tunnel lost 9-1 to Albion Rovers.

"We started slowly but improved in the first half, but couldn't make the breakthrough," explained Rovers' manager Dave McDonald.

"Scott Skipp scored the first and the visitors' heads seemed to drop allowing Mark Blake to head the second from six yards."

Meanwhile, Severn Tunnel found County League Division 1 side Albion Rovers far too tough.

"The scoreline doesn't really give a true reflection of the game," said Tunnel manager Steve Duddridge.

"Albion went ahead but Daryl Berry equalised and after they retook the lead, we had what seemed like a perfectly good goal disallowed which, had it stood, would have made it 2-2."

To add to Tunnel's disappointment at having the effort ruled out, Albion took full advantage, scoring from the spot after winning a hotly disputed penalty.

"I'm disappointed the scoreline didn't do us justice," Duddridge added. 

"But the better side won and I wish them well in the next round. The firepower they have is incredible and any team will have trouble stopping them scoring.