Quick’s treble seals victory for Cavaliers

LUXURY Windows First Division champions ThinkVans Cavaliers completed a league and cup double when they beat Premier Division champions Tremorfa Hotspurs 3-2 after extratime in the final of the Lazarou Brothers Challenge Cup.

Both teams went into the game on the back of Divisional Cup final defeats, so for one of team there would be double final heartbreak.

The Cavaliers were determined not to start as poorly as last week and this showed in the early exchanges with both teams creating chances and looking to gain the upper hand.

Tremorfa had slightly the better of the early chances, with Jonathan Huntley’s header only being denied by a clearance off the line, while Marcus Jones saw his goal-bound effort well saved.

But it was Cavaliers who took the lead, when a through ball by Craig Gilbert found Chris Quick, who outfoxed three defenders to fire home and give his side a 1-0 half-time lead.

The second half started with Tremorfa on the front foot and, after a succession of set pieces, within four minutes, Tremorfa were level, when a corner from Robert Fowler was forced home by Liam Rosser via a deflection off a Cavaliers defender.

Tremorfa piled on the pressure in an attempt to take the lead, but some outstanding saves by ThinkVans keeper Elliot Evans and excellent defending by Lewin Jones, Dan Green, Ed Gay and Elliott Ward kept the scores level.

At the other end, the Cavaliers had the chance to restore their lead, but Hotspurs keeper Jason Lukins saved well from Quick.

A neat 1-2 between Quick and Jamie Edwards produced an outstanding save from Lukins.

Another superb close range stop from the Tremorfa keeper late on sent the game into extra time at 1-1.

The balance of the match tipped in Cavaliers’ favour when Tremorfa’s substitute was red-carded and Quick soo took advantage, pouncing on a loose ball to put Thinkvans 2-1 up.

But Hotspurs weren’t done and a fine move saw Jason Martin equalise, with the match looking destined for penalties.

Somehow, ThinkVans found the energy for one last attack with Liam Pika again finding Quick with an excellent through ball, and he went past a defender and smashed the ball past the disconsolate goalkeeper for his hat-trick and his 73rd goal in 21 games for the Cavaliers to win the match 3-2. A HAT-TRICK of late goals delivered knockout blows to teams in both Sam Cornish semi-finals and the Combination Cup final.

The Combination Cup final was a hard-fought game, with Aberystwyth Exiles and RAFA FC locked together 0-0 with just 10 minutes remaining.

Then, a classic Peter Harrington header looked to have settled it for RAFA, but Iolo Tomlinson levelled for the Exiles within two minutes.

With extra time looming, Mark Lewis fired home an angled shot to clinch the cup for the Exiles.

There was more drama in the Sam Cornish semis, with BC Athletic the first to be hit by a late goal.

Once again the game was locked at 1-1, Gareth Edwards having put BC in front, with Suber Essa getting the Riverside equaliser.

With the game in the final minute, Aman Hassan grabbed the winner to send Division Two Riverside into the final.

In the second semi-final, Splott Park Rangers led throughout their game with Division One leaders Docks Albion thanks to goals from Andrew Jones and Dominic Jones, with Mohammed Sarhan replying for Docks in the second half.

Once again, in the last minute and Rangers with one foot in the final, Marco Dias grabbed an equaliser to take the game into extra-time.

Rangers could not regroup, and goals from James Lyon and Ahmed Nur saw the relieved Docks go through 4-2