Gwent football round-up

FOUR of the six outstanding County Motor Services Challenge Cup third round games were played on Saturday with the shock result being at Shannon Road, Bettws, where First Division leaders, Newport Civil Service, were defeated by Second Division leaders, Pentwynmawr Athletic.

Ben Lewis was the toast of Newbridge scoring both goals.

Third Division leaders, Govilon, defeated Second Division Malpas Gladiators 4-1 with goals courtesy of Mathew Ham (2), Jamie Laurent, Stuart Norman, and an own goal. First Division Albion Rovers disposed of Second Division Cromwell at Hartridge School, 2-0, Barry Bardsley and Luke Whittingham the marksmen. Jamie Roch (2), Mathew Shearman and Gareth Priest scored the goals to send First Division Cwmffrwdoer Sports through against Third Division visitors Sudbrook Cricket Club.

Only one fixture was played in the First Division, Mardy defeating local rivals Clydach Wasps 5-3 at Mardy Playing Fields, goals being scored by Lewis Welch (2), Stephen Smith, James Wham, and an own goal.

In the Second Division, Rogerstone came away from Llanhilleth Park with a 3-1 victory over Llanhilleth Athletic, Damian Richards, Ceri Evans and Adam Edwards the goal scorers.

RTB Ebbw Vale had a 4-2 home win over Newport Corinthians with goals from Kevin Greenland (2), Gareth Andrews and Mathew Nicholls. The bottom two clubs both enjoyed victories, Lucas Cwmbran when visiting Trinant, Kirk Hicks scoring the only goal, and West Pontnewydd a 3-1 victory at the Birches against Lliswerry, Andrew Cameron, John Rees and Daniel Caldwell the goal scorers. Trethomas Bluebirds and Fairfield United shared four goals at Llanfabon Drive, Jeff Griffiths and Carl Olsen scoring for the Bluebirds, Jim Williams and Jodie McCarthy for Fairfield.

In Division Three, Whiteheads were the top scorers with a 7-2 victory over Crickhowell at Bassaleg, the marksmen being Ben Thompson, Lewis Thomas and Andrew Delve, two apiece, and Simon Jones.

Abergavenny Thursdays scored five without reply against Caldicot Castle at Pen-y-Pound through Leon Gilchrist (2), Steve Collett, Ben Bannon and Colin Evans.

Sebastopol had three welcome points when defeating New Inn at Cwmbran Park, Daniel Morrison scoring both goals.

Villa Dino Christchurch and Crusaders shared four goals at Lliswerry Rec. Robert Thomas and Paul Swift scoring for Villa Dino, Shane Bowen and Daniel Morris for Crusaders.

Saturday's Results: County Motor Services Challenge Cup, round three: Cromwell 0 Albion Rovers 2; Cwmffrwdoer Sports 4 Sudbrook CC 0; Malpas Gladiators 1 Govilon 4; Newport CS 1 Pentwynmawr Athletic 2.

First Division: Mardy 5 Clydach Wasps 3.

Second Division: Llanhilleth Ath 1 Rogerstone 3; RTB Ebbw Vale 4 Newport Corinthians 2; Trethomas Bluebirds 2 Fairfield Utd 2; Trinant 0 Lucas Cwmbran 1; West Pontnewydd 3 Lliswerry 1.

Third Division: Abergavenny Thursdays 5 Caldicot Castle 0; Sebastopol 2 New Inn 1; Villa Dino Christchurch 2 Crusaders 2; Whiteheads 7 Crickhowell 2.

Knauf Insulation Gwent Central League

SATURDAY mornings sunshine and drying winds was not enough to dry out the waterlogged pitches following Friday's torrential rain. This led to half of Saturday's league matches being postponed.

The one outstanding game in the A Jones and Co (Usk) Limited Benevolent Open Cup round one was played. Fairfield United beat Sebastopol 3-1. Fairfield United led 1-0 at half time. Goal scorers for Fairfield United were David Roberts, Joshua Evans, plus a spectacular off the post goal by John Jenkins. Sebastopol's goal was scored by Nathan Thomas, Fairfield United are away to local rivals Cwmffrwdoer on January 12.

Only two games survived the weather in the Premier Division. Goytre visited the Island to take on Usk Town. Goytre took maximum points by winning the match 7-4, Goytre went 4-0 up in the first half but before half-time Usk Town pulled two goals back. Goal scorers for Usk Town were Will Barton (2), Jeremy Barton (1) and Charlie Ashworth. The Goytre goals came from a double hat-trick by Phil Melville and Graham Mason plus one from Jon Parkinson.

Man of the match for Usk Town was Will Barton. Man of the match for Goytre was Stuart Price. Goytre takes over second position from Pandy whose game was postponed but Pandy and current leaders Trevethin have four games in hand over Goytre.

Usk Town hold fourth position.

Lower New Inn took the honours in their home game over visitors Pontypool Town by winning their match 2-1. The game reached a thrilling climax when Pontypool Town appeared to be unlucky not to level the scores in the last kick of the game. Wayne Jobbins hit the crossbar with a powerful shot and Scott Taylor failed to tap in the rebound which had they scored then Pontypool Town would have deservedly shared the points.

The sides were level 0-0 at half-time. Goal scorers for Lower New Inn were Kyle Mitchell and the Lowers winner was scored in the 77th minute by Alex Probert who beat the Pontypool Town defence with a long range thunderbolt volley. Scott Taylor scored the Pontypool Town goal. Man of the match for Lower New Inn was Andrew Nightingale, man of the match for Pontypool Town, Matthew O'Neil. Pontypool Town are in Premiership Division seventh position. Lower New Inn holds eighth position.

Just two games survived in Division One Clydach Wasps got back to winning ways with a 7-0 home win over local rivals Mardy. The Wasps led 2-0 at half-time. Clydach Wasps goals came from a Ryan Price hat-trick, Jeff Sterry, Kyle Cheshire, Giles Prosser and Mark Taylor, all scored a goal apiece, man of the match for Clydach Wasps was Ryan Price, man of the match for Mardy was Matt Wooles. Clydach Wasps moves up to fourth position Mardy holds seventh position.

Aber Thursdays agreed to play their home game against Crickhowell on Crickhowell's pitch. At half-time the sides were level 0-0 and at the final whistle they were still level at 2-2. Robert Didcote scored both goals for Thursdays and Simon Wall scored both goals for Crickhowell, David Mason was named man of the match for Thursdays and Simon Wall was man of the match for Crickhowell.

Aber Thursdays stay ninth while Crickhowell holds 13th position.

Thursdays had two players sent off. Current Division two leaders Clydach B lost 3-1 away to bottom club Pontypool Town B who goal scorers were Adrian Price, Nathan Harris and Russell Jones. Scott Dobbs scored a consolation goal for the Division Two leaders. Pontypool Town B led 1-0 at half-time. David Collier was named man of the match for Pontypool Town B, Paul Evans was the Clydach man of the match .