FEW would have given bottom-club Severn Tunnel Non-Political B a prayer against division two pacesetters Tintern Abbey in the Benefit Cup Preliminary Round tie.

But with only minutes to go, extra time seemed on the cards with the score at 2-2.

Tunnel manager Ron Atkins told his remaining sub to warm-up ready for extra time.

"Some of my players were running on empty," he said, "so I told the sub to get ready for action as soon as the final whistle blew.

"Then Abbey scored so I had to put him straight on. The lads returned home in the sort of mood you would expect if they had won – which, morally, I think we did.

"We were given no hope but we gave Tintern a good game and maybe a bit of a fright."

Things were a little more one-sided at Sudbrook Cricket Club where the home side won 13-0 against Caldicot Castle C to progress to the first round of the Fishwick Cup.

In Division 1, Mathern came back from 1-0 down and finally romped to a 12-1 victory over Chepstow Town, club captain Sam Marmont scoring only the third senior goal – described as a 40-yard right-foot 'screamer' on the club's Facebook page.

"I came out of a crunching tackle, looked up and just hit it," Marmont said. "I think it surprised everybody – especially me!"

Wayne Duffield (four), Richard Wood (three) Hywel Pugh (two), Tom Marmont and Shane Dash scored the others.

Chepstow Athletic beat visitors Severn Tunnel Non-Pol A 4-2. Dougie Drummond and sub Scott Payne scored for Tunnel in a match that manager Ricky Douglas described as "not our best performance". Since progressing into the first round proper of the Gwent Amateur Cup, Tunnel have failed to register a point and have lost ground on the leading group of four clubs.

Blackrock Rovers called off their match against Underwood because they were without 12 of their regular squad.

"We asked the league to postpone the match, but no such luck," said manager Leigh Taylor.

In Division 2, Caldicot Castle A won 3-2 at Portskewett & Sudbrook and Castle B won 3-0 at home against Red and White.

This Saturday sees Severn Tunnel entertain Caldicot Town, Mathern at home to near neighbours Chepstow Athletic, Blackrock Rovers at home to Chepstow Town while Underwood will be out to avenge a 4-2 defeat at Undy Athletic earlier in the season.

Division 2 sees Castle A entertain Tunnel B, Castle C at home to Castle B while match of the day appears to be Sudbrook Cricket Club at home to Tintern Abbey although Red and White v Mathern B promises to be worth a watch.