THORNWELL'S second string made it through to the second round of the Benevloent Cup with a superb 6-3 win away at local rivals Chepstow Athletic.

And the visitors had to do it the hard way after being reduced to 10 men in the first half when striker Jack Stewart was sent off for his heated reaction to a Kevin Meddins challenge.

By that time Red and White were already three goals to the good. First Stewart showed his goal-poaching instincts to finish from close range, before a deft chip from Paul Traski lobbed the stranded  Athletic 'keeper to double the lead. Steve Harrison then took advantage of a mix up in the home defence to make it 3-0 before Stewart saw red.

With Stewart – minus his shirt which was thrown off in anger – on the sidelines, the game became a much closer affair.

Athletic began to threaten the Red and White goal through a succession of well worked attacks and pulled one back before the break.

However their joy was to be shortlived, as soon after the re-start, Harrison doubled his tally for the day after being presented with a simple tap in when the 'keeper failed to hold on to a Wilson pile-driver.

At the other end the visitors had to work hard to stop Athletic playmaker Mark Baynton from pulling the strings while 'keeper Jack Hopkins needed to be at his very best to keep out a Meddins strike.

Athletic threw the kitchen sink at Thornwell in the second half and managed to pull two goals back to make it 4-3.

But the result was put beyond doubt when Leon Ivin made it 5-3 and Harrison completed his hat-trick with a sublime spin and beautifully flighted strike into the top corner.