Nine unbeaten for Cwmbran

CWMBRAN's stand-in manager Roger Gibbins blasted his side's inept performance as "not good enough" as they drew 0-0 with mid-table Flexsys Cefn Druids at Cwmbran Stadium.

The Crows have now gone nine games unbeaten but that will be little consolation for Gibbins who saw this draw as two points dropped rather than one point gained.

This result also means that Cwmbran have now kept six clean sheets in their last nine games.

And with centre-back Gareth Wharton patrolling the defence so superbly many more are sure to follow. Wharton was clearly the best player on the pitch.

Considering Cwmbran have kept so many clean sheets during their nine game run you would expect them to be higher up the league. But they struggled to create chances.

Cwmbran started the stronger and dominated midfield but it took nearly 22 minutes before they produced the first chance of the game.

It came from a set piece with Lee O'Connor floating in a decent free-kick which Davies hit on the half-volley. However, his shot was well blocked.

This spurred Flexsys into action and just five minutes later they so nearly took the lead.

Defender Ricky Jones hit a clearance on the volley from the half-way line which somehow found Michael Davies unmarked at the far post.

Unfortunately for Flexsys, the striker headed straight at Ellacott.

Ten minutes before half-time Wharton came close with header which was cleared off the line by Ricky Jones.

After the break Cwmbran picked up the pace as the Druids defended closer and closer to the 18-yard line the longer the game went on.

It was clear that they were happy to settle for a point while Cwmbran were desperate to find the crucial goal that would win this game.

But it was Flexsys who so nearly took the lead on the hour. Michael Davies headed a cross towards the far corner of the goal but Ellacott somehow managed to tip the ball round the post one handed when it looked destined for the back on the net.

Following Cwmbran's narrow escape Gibbins decided to ring the changes, throwing on Adam Moore, Jason Welsh and eventually Richard Hurlin for the final minutes.

And the substitutions so nearly worked with the Crows having two glorious opportunities to win the game in the last minute.

First Welsh headed Hurlin's cross inches wide and then deep into injury time Wharton headed O'Connor's long throw against the bar.

In the ensuing scramble it looked as if the ball would surely end up in the back of the net. But after rebounding off the post and then keeper Stuart McIntosh the ball was eventually cleared to safety.

And just before the whistle Chris Watkins almost hit the back of the net with a sweet half-volley.