Blaenavon Blues - 3

Villa Dino - 3

FOR the fifth time this season the Blaenavon Blues needed extra time in a cup game and for the fourth time they needed penalties to settle the tie when they met Villa Dino in Round Three of the Gwent Amateur Cup.

Villa started the stronger side and 30 minutes in Matthew Lillygreen fired the visitors in front.

With half time approaching Lee Penry equalised with a spectacular volley from 30 yards.

Blues started the second half aggressively. Penry hit the bar and then set up sub Jim Cox whose header narrowly went over the bar. Cox also sent a rasping drive narrowly over the bar.

From a corner Blues went into the lead. Marc Browning's shot rebounded off a defender to Penry, he took one touch and then sent a clinical shot into the far corner.

Browning, overlapping down the right flank crossed for Lloyd Jeffries, he headed back across goal but unfortunately for him, wide of the far post.

Against the run of play Villa equalised, when a fast counter attack saw Martin Patrick steer the ball home.

In the last 20 minutes the visitors had the upper hand and Lillygreen shot over when he was well placed.

The tie went into extra time and the Blues upped their game. Liltyd Caddick put over a superb cross which was finished with a magnificent header from Jake Bull.

Still Blues could not hold the lead and after Lee Jones had made a great save, Paul Scarf equalised for Villa.

The tie went to penalties and Villa only scored two. Blues were successful with four. Penry, Cox, Mike Waite and Darren Harris were all on target.

Centre backs Craig Tanner and Lee Wathen were outstanding for the Blues.