Pennies plundered, but Blues go through

ABERGAVENNY Town suffered a second consecutive cup exit following a 4-0 defeat to Chepstow Town in the first round of the Ardal Southern League Cup on Friday night under the Pen-y-Pound Stadium floodlights.

But division neighbours Blaenavon Blues and Goytre both won through to the next round.

Chepstow – boosted by five closed season signing from Goytre, including Golden Boot winner Chris Ham – made a bright start with Leon Ingles going close with a 20-yard half-volley in the fifth minute.

Former Newport County starlet Sonny Lewis was then picked out in space in the penalty area before being denied by Ryan Decker-Thomas in the Pennies' goal.

Sam Broadribb's 12th-minute shot from the edge of the penalty area was then blocked by the Pennies defence before Abergavenny Town skipper Ben Brooks went close with a low 20-yard free-kick 11 minutes later.

Chepstow’s Fin Maguire-Hamblett then pulled a 27th-minute shot wide from inside the penalty area prior to team mate Ryan Wheeler's effort from the edge of the penalty area being deflected behind for a corner.

Josh Parsons then fired narrowly wide from 20 yards following a quickly-taken 32nd-minute corner prior to Lewis fizzing a 20-yard free-kick just over the crossbar.

Abergavenny Town created a couple of opportunities in the closing minutes of the first half, Corey Paton firing an effort wide of goal from the edge of the penalty area in the 40th minute before Ethan Dallaway's effort was turned behind by Matthew Swann in the Jockeys’ goal, with neither side breaking the deadlock before the half-time whistle.

Chepstow Town made a strong start after the interval when Lewis fired wide from the edge of the penalty area a minute in, prior to Adam Wakley heading narrowly wide of the target less than 60 seconds later.

And the visitors opened the scoring seven minutes after the break when Josh Parsons' drive was parried by Decker-Thomas and substitute Mason Keepin-Davies was on hand to turn home the rebound.

Chepstow doubled their advantage in the 55th minute when Parsons sliced his way through the Pennies' defence before coolly slotting the ball past Decker-Thomas.

And the Jockeys added a third goal eight minutes later when Keepin-Davies broke into the hosts’ penalty area from a Chris Ham pass before sliding the ball past Decker-Thomas.

Former Goytre star Ham, who followed former boss Marc Ingles to the Jockeys in the summer following the latter’s late season exit from the Penperlleni outfit, then played in Parsons in the 69th minute but was unable to keep his shot on target.

Abergavenny Town attempted to respond five minutes later when Paton's 20-yard shot was saved prior to Jack Sage's header being saved following a cross on the right flank.

And the scoring was completed with 10 minutes remaining when Parsons was on hand to convert a low cross delivered by Sam Broadribb along the face of the goal from the left-hand side of the penalty area.

But the Blues saw off Neath Port Talbot outfit Seven Sisters Onllwyn 2-0 at home on Saturday to go through.

A first half goal from Harrison Archer put the Blues in front, picking up the ball on the right wing on the half-way line and outstripping the defender to fire past the keeper.

And the striker was unlucky not to hit a hat-trick in the opening 30 minutes as the visiting keeper made several top draw saves.

But on 51 minutes Matt Burns doubled the lead, heading home from a corner.

And how the Blues failed to add to their tally is a bit of a mystery, Burns hit ting the cross bar with a well executed lob, Frazer Probert pinging the inside of the post with a stunning 30-yard strike. a well-hit shot from distance from Baily Perry tipped over by the keeper and a Nathan Watts shot cleared off the line.

Goytre also made it through with a hard-fought 3-2 win at Lliswerry.

Lewis Iles levelled the Lizards’ third-minute opener just past the half-hour mark,

And just three minutes later Alex McDowell turned the game on its head with a second for a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Lliswerry hit back to make it 2-2 on 67 minutes, but just two minutes later Goytre were in front again when a host defender put through his own net for 3-2, which proved the final score after the Lizards’ manager found himself in the book.

The Pennies will be attempting to avoid a third successive cup defeat when they welcome Cardiff Corries of Ardal South West to the Pen-y-Pound Stadium on Friday night (September 4) for their FAW Amateur Trophy first round tie.

Goytre host Cogan Coronation in the same competition on Saturday afternoon, when Blues visit Abercarn United in the league.