SOUTH WALES SENIOR CUP

CORNELLY UNITED ..... 2 NAVI TREHARRIS FC .. 0

CORNELLY United booked a semi-final place in one of the most remarkable ties that Meadow Street has witnessed, writes Tony Poole.

The mid-table Merthyr & District League Premier Division side finished the game with just eight men – and just for good measure their manager was also shown a red card.

Given that it was remarkable that the Wasps failed to pack any sting in front of goal after assembling an early two-goal buffer.

Top scorer Carl Owen made the big breakthrough after just two minutes, and a landslide Cornelly victory seemed in the offing.

That seemed the case when Owen doubled the lead in the 10th minute with his 18th goal of the campaign.

Remarkably, it ended a mini drought that dated back to January 20 when getting the last-gasp winner in the exciting 3-2 home win over Garw in the league.

But on similar line to the last round of the cup against Cwm Rhondda, it was a case of Cornelly flattering only to deceive.

Stoppages amounted to around a quarter of an hour, as the three musketeers saw red along with their manager.

Ultimately, the Wasps just wanted to hear the welcome sound of the final whistle, as the game of football certainly wasn’t the winner on the day.

Cornelly, who lifted the cup three years ago, will go into the hat for the semi-final draw along with Llangeinor and Division One rivals AFC Whitchurch and Penrhiwceiber Con Athletic.

Meanwhile, the Wasps resume a promotion push on Saturday away to former Welsh League club Llantwit Fardre.

“The promotion issue was never in our hands, and others will now have to slip up to give us a realistic chance,” said Cornelly United chief Ryan Blanche.

“But there’s still a lot of games to be played in a short space of time, and other promotion candidates are likely to drop points.’’