MONKTON Swifts booked their place in the next round of the Senior Cup on Saturday (Nov 19) as they beat Neyland 5-1.
The sides have already met once this season and that resulted in a 5-0 win for the Swifts and it looked like another comfortable afternoon would be in store as they scored two goals in the opening seven minutes.
In the fifth minute, a mistake at the back allowed Gareth Finnegan in and he crossed into the box for Ben Steele to score.
Then two minutes later, Declan Carroll intercepeted a goal kick and he found Chris Richards who doubled Monkton’s lead.
However, just four minutes after Neyland were back in the game as Mike Chandler threw the ball in to Liam Rees and he slotted the ball in the net.
Neyland were grateful to keeper Ben Fairbairn who made three good saves to keep his side in the game.
But with just under half an hour gone it was 3-1 as Richards sent a corner into the box and Steele rose highest to head the ball home.
With three minutes to go until the break the Swifts added a fourth as Ben Steele’s free kick took a deflection and looped into the net.
That completed his hat trick and Neyland’s hopes of progressing were all but over.
Neyland battled well in the second half but were unable to find a way back into the game.
In the last minute, Dylan Davies chipped the ball over the keeper to make it 5-1 to seal Monkton’s passage into the next round.
On Saturday, November 26, the sides return to Division 1 action as Neyland travel to Pennar Robins while Monkton host Fishguard, both games kick off at 2pm.
