Westland United 3 Cheddar 4 (after extra time) - CHEDDAR progressed to the last 16 of the Senior Cup after an unimpressive performance against a hard working and often impressive Westland team.

Westland United 3

Cheddar 4

(after extra time)

CHEDDAR progressed to the last 16 of the Senior Cup after an unimpressive performance against a hard working and often impressive Westland team.

After the disappointment of losing two of the season's new signings, Dean Grubb and Will Gardner, to Wellington earlier in the week Cheddar had to regroup, but there was still enough quality in the side to continue the charge towards the league title.

It was clearly not the best day to judge this as a combination of poor decision making, bad individual mistakes, unhelpful conditions and a better than expected opponent contrived to make Cheddar struggle in a game they would have expected to win relatively comfortably.

Keeper Scott Middleton was making his debut after waiting five weeks from signing and he had a game he would much rather forget, though a couple of crucial saves kept Cheddar in it when they looked to be in trouble. Middleton's first touch was to catch a spinning, wet ball from Callum McManus' cross and it squirmed out of his grasp Danny Dancer who flicked the ball home.

.Cheddar took the game to their hoists but were always wary of the counter attacking threat; however Cheddar levelled with their first piece of quality play when Adam Jones passed to Lewis Matthews, who beat keeper Dan Till from 12 yards.

Soon after it was 2-1 as a superb through ball by Tom Manning found Adam Jones who easily beat the home keeper.

The second half saw Cheddar create more chances but good defence and keeping by Westland kept the visitors at bay. Still Westland looked dangerous, with Cheddar starting to struggle with the long kicks of the home keeper on a small pitch, and from one of these kicks Westland equalised. A long punt sailed over the heads of the Cheddar defenders and seemed to be going through to Middleton; but he misjudged the flight of the ball and only succeeded in holding it up for Rich Lloyd to tap the ball home.

Cheddar regained the lead with just five minutes left, as a Tom Manning free kick found the head of Lewis Matthews who scored from close range., but just before the final whistle, Westland scored again through Dancer to take the game into extra time.

Cheddar's winner came in the second period of extra time when Mike Kay set up Chris Gardner to smash a low shot into the corner..

Cheddar will have to improve a lot on Saturday when the return to league action as they, top of the table, play Watchet who are now level on points and games but behind on goal difference.

Weston St John's 2

Clevedon United 2

(St.John's won 3-1 on penalties after extra time)

ST JOHN'S produced an excellent performance to advance to the next round of the Somerset Senior Cup against Clevedon, who are at the top of the table in Somerset Division 1, the Division above St John's.

Saints attacked from the start and the Clevedon goal led a charmed life as James Wotton, Juzzy Flavell and Ross Stockhall had chances well saved by the keeper. Saints defenders Mark Hearne, Nick Jones, Joe Whittaker and Joe Radcliffe were in top form and never gave the Clevedon strikers a chance.

Clevedon looked dangerous from set pieces and following a corner keeper Ian Allchorne made a superb diving save to keep Saints level. Dan Hartley saw a good effort fly just wide and Wotton had a header saved.

Against the run of play Clevedon took the lead when following a corner the ball was cleared off the line by Jones only for a striker to score from close range. Mark Adams, Hartley and Wotton were worked hard and dominated midfield keeping Clevedon pegged back.

Saints equalised following a good run and cross from Ryan Hodrien who found Wotton and he scored from the edge of the area. Just before half-time Flavell saw his header from Stockhall's cross well-saved and at half-time the score was 1-1.

Clevedon started the second-half the better side. Saints had chances but could not clear the ball and following a defensive slip a striker scored from close range.. Saints poured forward in search of an equaliser with Adams and Hartley creating chances for Stockhall and Flavell, but again they found the Clevedon keeper in top-form.

Saints got the equaliser they deserved when Hartley and was brought down and he scored from the penalty spot. Saints still had chances to win with Jack Clark going close on a few occasions.

Extra time saw Saints still dominating and Clark saw a really good chance saved by the keeper and there were also chances for Flavell, Stockhall and Hartley. Clevedon were unable to threaten the Saints goal with defenders Hearne, Jones, Whittaker and Radcliffe in outstanding form.

The game went into penalties and when Allchorne saved the first kick, Saints knew they had a great chance. Hartley fired his home, then Clevedon missed again, then Flavell struck his confidently, Clevedon then scored and Clark stepped up to blast his kick into the net. The next Clevedon player then put his kick wide and Saints had won a superb game. Weston Costcutters player of the match was Mark Hearne.