Govilon - 3
Underwood -1
GWENT County Division Two leaders Govilon are through to the semi-final of the County Motors Challenge Cup League Cup, following last Saturday's win over Llanmartin based Underwood.
Govilon took an early lead after seven minutes when good link play between Craig Thomas and Dean Morgan saw Morgan fire past Bidgood in the Underwood goal.
Craig Thomas was again the playmaker after 15 minutes with a strong left wing run into the box which saw him slip the ball to Richard McCarthy who fired straight at Bidgood, only for the keeper to parry the ball to safety.
Bidgood was under attack again when Dean Morgan beat two defenders in the box, but unfortunately his shot was nullified by the side netting.
Jamie Laurent put in a similar run, but could not find enough power to beat Bidgood.
However, it was from Laurent's corner that Govilon increased their lead after the ball fell loose to Matthew Ham who seized the chance to power home a screamer from well outside the box.
The ball beat both Bidgood and the defender stationed on the line for Govilon to take a 2-0 interval lead.
Ten minutes after the re-start came the goal of the game when Laurent found himself free in mid-field and passed to Richard McCarthy who beat two men in the box before squaring the ball to Dean Morgan.
Morgan made no mistake from 10 yards out, to the delight of just under 100 hardy souls who braved the bitterly cold conditions.
Underwood had a glimmer of hope on the hour mark, winning two tackles on the edge of the Govilon box, before the ball was slipped to their striker who rocketed it into the net from a narrow angle.
Govilon dominated play during the the last 20 minutes. Laurent was in the thick of things squaring to McCarthy who fired against the post.
Jamie Wilkins volleyed over when a corner ball eluded the fingertips of Bidgood and Matthew Stevens who was set up by Dean Morgan saw Bidgood produce a fine save to block his effort.
On Saturday Govilon are in cup action again as they defend the John Payne Barber Gwent FA Amateur Cup with a home tie (k.o.1.30pm) against their Second Division rivals Lliswerry.
Lliswerry inflicted a rare defeat on Govilon at Newport in November, and they will surely go all out next Saturday to prevent Govilon from booking themselves a place in the cup quarter finals.
Elsewhere, in Division One, Mardy's match against the Abertilery Excelsiors was the only fixture to go ahead, and the Mardy probably wished it hadn't as they started the new year with a 5-0 thumping.
Meanwhile, in Division Three, the Abergavenny Thursdays match against West Pontnewydd was postponed, but the Thursdays will look to build upon their solid fourth-placed spot in the league when they travel to Whiteheads this Saturday.