ALL hail Newport YMCA for battling their way up to become Gwent's highest-placed MacWhir-ter Welsh League club following a 3-1 home victory over Taffs Well, writes Terry Daley.

YMCA have had to work extremely hard to gain that accolade under the shrewd managership of former defender Mark Coldrick, whose side will now seek further Welsh Cup glory against visiting Welsh Premier League strugglers Llan-gefni Town on Saturday.

Coldrick's men are certainly up for the task, none more so than giant striker Lewis Sommers, who continued his recent fine goal- scoring form with a brace against Taffs Well.

The visitors equalised after Sommers' third-minute opener before his second, and a brilliantly struck free kick from midfielder John Frankie' Pardew settled the issue to send YMCA above Cwmbran Town into seventh position.

"There's nothing like a good win to build up the confidence before a crucial cup game," said Coldrick.

"We'll prepare well now in the week and we're very much looking forward to Saturday's cup game."

Poor Cwmbran simply can't buy a goal these days, and despite the introduction of eight new signings for their away game against relegation-threatened Maesteg Park Athletic, the Crows fired blanks for a club-record sixth successive league match in a 0-0 draw.

It's now 550 minutes since manager Guillermo Ganet's team managed to find the back of the net, a fact which doesn't bode well for the most difficult task of all on Saturday - a home game against leaders Goytre United.

Only on one occasion, when new recruit Benjamin Bristow saw his point-blank header tipped over by former Crow goalkeeper Gary Wager, did Cwmbran look likely to score and they would have lost this particular encounter had the home side not struck the crossbar shortly afterwards.

The result means Cwmbran, table-toppers themselves on October 7, have slipped down to eighth position, and if the three clubs below them - Afan Lido Caerleon and Bridgend Town - win only one of their many games in hand, then they'll drop even further to 11th of 18.

Caerleon hosted second-placed Ton Pentre at Cold Bath Road, where they gave a very good account of themselves in a 0-0 draw.

Both sides could have won an entertaining encounter as both goalkeepers made a crucial save to deny the opposition, and with Caerleon now preparing for Saturday's away Welsh Cup clash with Wrexham-based Cymru All-iance outfit GAP Queen's Park, manager Brendan Dowd expressed his satisfaction at the outcome.

"This was an excellent game, well fought and one which sets us up nicely for Saturday's cup clash," exclaimed Dowd.

"Our players acquitted themselves well against the second- best side in the league and we're pleased with the performance."

Caldicot Town's yo-yo form continued as they were beaten 3-1 at Cambrian & Clydach, where Jason Thorne was their sole goal-scorer.

Croesyceiliog are having precious little luck in league matches, and although joint manager Chris Evans claims they were the better side in their away clash against ENTO Aberaman, it was the hosts who emerged 2-1 victors.

Teenager Callum Miles put Croesyceiliog ahead before a dubious penalty decision against Mark Morris saw the free-spending home side draw level from the spot.

Aberaman wrapped up the win 10 minutes from time, although there was still time for Croesyceiliog to miss several late chances.

"We deserved to win, and considering we had four youth-team players in our squad, we did extremely well," said Evans. "We started like a house on fire, passed the ball well and played some great football.

"However, that penalty came just before the break and gave them a big lift. We also hit the bar through Daniel Clouth and luck was against us then."

Caldicot remain in 13th position, while Croesyceiliog are now only three points better off than Maesteg, who occupy the highest relegation spot, 16th, and they also have a match in hand over the Gwent club.

In Division Two, Llanwern failed to get their promotion bid back on track when they twice threw away two-goal leads before being held to a 3-3 draw at bottom-placed Treharris Athletic.

Llanwern manager Laurence Owen was not a happy man after watching his team fluff their lines, but also included himself in his criticism after the side managed to play its first league game since November 3.

"We were very, very poor and we all have to look at ourselves and that includes me," admitted Owen.

"When you are 3-1 up with only 20 minutes remaining, you should be good enough to play out the game - but we weren't and that is so frustrating."

Llanwern striker Steve Perszewski opened the scoring before Mike Vaux doubled the advantage with Marcus Power adding a third after the break.

Llanwern drop one to eighth, but can move up a position if they can defeat visiting fourth-placed outfit Ely Rangers at Newport Stadium on Wednesday, kick-off 7.00pm.

Tredegar Town continued their climb away from the relegation zone with a fine, 3-0 home success over fellow strugglers Troedyrhiw.

Player-boss Andrew York has transformed the club's fortunes since taking over six weeks ago, their latest positive result taking them above Troedyrhiw into 13th place - their highest position since the start of the season.

"We played really well, we were full of composure and our confidence is growing with each game," said York, whose side's goals came from Neil Atherton (2) and Craig Burgess.

"Perhaps we should have scored a lot more, but as long as we continue this form we'll be OK."

Risca United slipped a place to eighth in Division One following a 3-0 defeat at Llansawel, and Goytre one position to 11th after losing 2-1 at home to Penrhiw-ceiber Rangers, with striker Joey Carless scoring for the Plough Road side.

"We were a bit slow out of the blocks, they deserved to win and we can't have any complaints," admitted Risca assistant manager Nathan Wigg, who witnessed striker Steve Lane get sent off for foul and abusive language against a match official.

Monmouth scored via Matthew Bowen in their home Gwent derby against Aberbargoed Buds, but went on to lose their unbeaten six-match record after a couple of goals by Ross Fowler earned the visitors a 2-1 victory.

"We are delighted with the outcome and at last we are beginning to move up the table," said Buds chief Billy Vaughan; Buds gave a debut to striker Chris Duggan, a recent recruit from Division Two side Merthyr Saints.

The Buds are up a place to 13th and are now seven points clear of the two-strong drop zone, while Monmouth remain in 14th position.

However, it's looking increasingly likely that Abertillery Excelsiors could be relegated at the end of the season - their latest slip-up coming 6-2 at home to Merthyr Saints.

Excelsiors are only three points off from moving out of the danger area, but have already played 20 league matches - five and six games more than Ystradgynlais and Severn Sisters, the two teams immediately above the relegation area, respectively.