Abergavenny Town FC - 2

Sporting Marvels FC - 1

ABERGAVENNY Town are through to the quarter finals of the FAW Trophy but it was a close run thing at the Sporting Marvels ground, which just survived a morning pitch inspection.

The first half was a dour affair with both sides coming to terms with the playing surface and weighing up the opposition.

In fact Town produced only one effort of note which was a shot from Aaron Norman which grazed the crossbar four minutes from the interval.

At half time Town introduced their latest singing, 19-year-old Lewis Jones who has arrived at Pen-y-Pound from Newport County where he was an ever-present youth player, via his latest club, Aberbargoed Buds.

The switch did the trick, and Town went ahead after only three minutes into the half, when Josh Protheroe broke down the left wing, his shot beating the keeper and going over the line off an unlucky Marvels’ defender’s knee.

Town’s second half performance was a big improvement over the first half but they were set back on their heels when Marvels’ Daniel Smith scored with a fierce drive from outside the box halfway through the half.

Town’s Dean Morgan nearly restored the lead but his thumping drive went straight at the keeper. As the game drifted towards extra-time, Town had a real scare one minute from the end when Marvels hit the post, but in the next minute they were awarded a corner for which left back Jac Evans moved up-field and leaped like a salmon to head home and save the day for Town.

Following the quarter final draw which was made at FAW headquarters in Cardiff on Monday, Town were handed a home tie against Spar Mid-Wales outfit Llanrhaeadr. The match will be played on Saturday, February 20.

On Saturday Town return to league action and entertain Ely Rangers (2.00pm.)

Meanwhile at Pen-y-Pound on Saturday, Town’s reserve side were in scintillating form recording a stunning 9-1 victory over Lliswerry reserves. Goals came from Jake Heckles who grabbed a hat-trick, Tom Jenkins who hit two and Nathan Davies, new signing Paul Titchard, Curtis Methven and Ben Bannon, who all chipped in with one apiece.