Geo Sandoe Cup - quarter final

Viney Hill Res 0, Sedbury BL 3

FORMED only two years ago, Sedbury's British Legion team has enjoyed a remarkable run of success but now they face a showdown to decide the strongest team in the village.

Saturday's cup win over Viney Hill Reserves has pitched them into a two leg semi-final battle against village rivals Sedbury Strollers.

"It will be brother against brother and cousin against cousin. The two matches promise to be pretty lively," said BL secretary Andy Ellis.

The British Legion team was formed out of frustration.

"There were a number of us on the fringes of the other local teams, Tidenham and the Strollers, and we wanted regular games for ourselves and for a number of youngsters who had nowhere else to play. So we decided to form a new team based at the local British Legion Club," said Ellis.

But he never imagined the success which was to follow.

In their first season the team blasted its way to top of the North Gloucester League's fourth division scoring a remarkable 140 goals - 53 netted by Richard Edwards and 44 by Duane McEwan.

And now they are repeating that form in the third division.

"We can't go wrong at the moment. We are top of the league, in the semi-finals of the County Cup and now the semi-finals of the Sandoe Cup," said Ellis.

"In fact, all the local teams are doing well so the match against the Strollers is a big one for all of us."

The British Legion play their home games at the nearby army barracks at Beachley. Team manager is an experienced local player Charlie Short and the captain is Steve Jennings.

The Sandoe Cup game at Viney was quite a scrap, said Ellis.

"They were not a bad team and there were no first half goals. We had to battle for a result but we got on top in the second half and made the semi-finals with two goals by Duane McEwan and a goal by Ashley Bollen," he said.

Dates have yet to be arranged for the semi-final games but Ellis is forecasting plenty of action.

"There will be plenty of supporters with a foot in both camps. They should be matches well worth watching," said Ellis.