MARTYN Ziemann’s late winner booked Bishops Castle Town’s place in the final of the Tanners Town Cup and ended Maesyrhandir’s brave resistance.

The Newtown side arrived at the Manor Ground shorn of nine players after illness swept through their squad in the build-up to the eagerly anticipated semi-final.

Castle went into the game with home advantage and as massive favourites having reached last season’s Town Cup final while the Purples went into the tie aiming to reach the first ever cup final in their short history.

However the Purples proved to be dogged opponents with Castle frustrated until the final few minutes when ex-Berriew and Welshpool Town striker Ziemann struck.

Maesyrhandir manager Gary Jones praised his patched up side for their battling display and hoped to build on the display between now and the end of the season.

“We rode our luck early on but we grew into the game and actually created a few chances,” said Jones. “Fair play to Castle as they were relentless for 90 minutes.

“I am very happy with the progression of the side this season and now we turn our attention to our main objective at the start of the season which was survival in the first division.

“We have the squad and just need to continue taking some results from these improved performances as we bid to climb the table to safety.”

Meanwhile just one game survived the otherwise washed out J T Hughes Montgomeryshire League programme as Guilsfield Reserves returned to the top of Honda Division One with a 3-1 win at Meifod.

League top scorer Danny Barton was once again on target for the Guils while Phil Turnbull and Luke Francis completed their scoring while Josh Davies reduced the arrears for the Kings.

The entire Mitsubishi Division Two programme and the Boys and Boden Montgomeryshire League Cup clash between Waterloo Rovers and Caersws Reserves fell foul to the weather.

Meifod had been due to travel to Caersws Reserves in midweek but the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Meanwhile the midweek Honda Division One derby between Guilsfield Reserves and Trewern was also postponed as the weekend rain continued into the week.