BOTH teams aimed to put last week's disappointing Gwent Amateur Cup defeats behind them but six first-half goals put Mathern Wanderers in the driving seat.

"We were a bit stop-start," manager Gareth Moore said. "We had periods when we were on top and we scored most of our goals but we also took our feet off the gas and let Tunnel take control although we managed to keep a clean sheet – the first for a long time."

Moore, without the influential Ieuan Diyaolu in midfield, the dangerous Richard Wood and experienced defender Hywel Pugh, chose to include a couple of players from the club's B team, resting younger players ahead of their Under-18s match.

"They all performed well and I was pleased that one of those stepping up – Dan Tyler – managed to get himself on the score-sheet."

Meanwhile, with Tunnel manager Ricky Douglas away, B team manager Ron Atkins took charge.

Although he had little to say about the defeat, he praised the performance of new signing, defender Lee Clarke.

"Lee did well, particularly against Mathern's wingers and he will be a very useful player for us," he said.

Mathern's top scorer Wayne Duffield opened their account when he collected a pass from Tommy Marmont to fire a low shot past Tunnel's keeper Sam Atkins.

At the other end, the keeper's older brother Tom and fellow striker Scott Payne were always dangerous but their shots caused few problems to Mathern's defence.

Alex Bell doubled Mathern's lead and then Shane Dash provided a pinpoint centre for Duffield to head his second.

At this point, the home side were dominating and it was no surprise when, during another raid, they were awarded a penalty. Defender Jeff Whitehouse stepped up and promptly skied his kick high over the bar.

A few minutes later, Rob Wood wriggled through Tunnel's defence to make it 4-0 and Whitehouse made up for his miss by scoring low inside a post.

Duffield thumped a 20-yard free-kick against the bar but Tom Marmont collected the rebound and lobbed the keeper to make it 6-0.

Tyler put himself on the score-sheet with a 25-yard half-volley which keeper Atkins did well to reach but could only watch as the ball spun over his head and into the net.

Duffield completed his hat-trick, running onto a poor clearance from a corner and hammering the ball home and Marmont grabbed his second to complete the victory.