YM groan as Caerleon overtake

YMCA started the day three points better off and with a superior goal difference. However, at the end of it Caerleon had overtaken their Division One rivals as well as taking the lead in the goal-difference stakes.

While Caerleon recorded an expectant 4-1 away success at already-relegated Garw Athletic, YMCA slumped to a surprise 5-0 home defeat at the hands of title-chasing Goytre United.

Mendalgief Road is rapidly becoming a favourite of the Port Talbot-based side, who clinched the 2006-07 championship at the venue, and the latest success took them to the top of the table.

YMCA began minus skipper John Frankie' Pardue and also had to contend with losing Steve Edwards and Aaron Stewart before the kick-off.

And Coldrick's side were further hampered when another midfielder, Robert Wigmore, aggravated a leg injury after just 20 minutes.

"To be honest, we never really turned up," said YMCA boss Mark Coldrick. "We started brightly, but were thrown off course by Robert Wigmore's departure.

"It was all a bit backwards for us after that, although we acquitted ourselves well and 5-0 flatters them.

"We made defensive mistakes which cost us and we look forward now to putting things right during Tuesday's game at Croesyceiliog."

The goal conceded means YMCA have now let in 59, the highest number of any of the top 12 with only four other clubs letting in more.

While Caerleon were racing certainties to win at Garw, who have now conceded an amazing 213 in only 33 outings and where Chris Jones, Simon Truman, Matthew Hearne (penalty) and Ryan Cueto scored, manager Brendan Dowd said he was incensed by what he claims was extreme roughhouse tactics from the hosts.

"They kicked anything that moved and it got so bad that I threatened to take my team off if I saw one more bad foul," revealed Dowd.

"The referee was booking players throughout the game, but he let an awful lot go - and most of the problems stemmed from that.

"We had skipper Martyn Phillips sent off for picking up two yellows, but there should have been some of their players who followed him.

"To cap it all, we were poor and although the scoreline looks OK we can take no great credit from this game."

Caerleon, who are now seventh but have played a game more than YMCA, have a quick chance to redeem themselves on Wednesday when they travel the short distance to face county rivals Cwmbran Town.

The 12th-placed Crows were not in action and that gave the team immediately above them, Caldicot Town, the chance to open a five-point gap with victory at ENTO Aberaman Athletic.

However, despite manager Jason Pritchard's assessment that they dominated their hosts, a 1-0 away defeat means his side still head Cwmbran by just two points with four games remaining.

"We fairly battered them, but simply couldn't finish," complained Pritchard. "We created about four or five good chances and also had the frustration of seeing Wayne Morley sent off for a couple of bookable offences."

Caldicot are also in mid-week action, visiting the Grenig Park home of Cwmamman United FC to face struggling Pontardawe Town.

Fourth-from-the-bottom Croesyceiliog began the day seeking a positive result against table-topping Ton Pentre in an attempt to further climb away from the three-strong relegation zone.

They managed just that in picking up a well-deserved point from a highly creditable 0-0 draw, and there was further good news when it was discovered the only side which can overtake them, Maesteg Park Athletic, lost 1-0 at home to Bridgend Town.

It means even if Maesteg win their three games in hand, it would still leave them trailing by two points with both clubs then having only a couple of matches left.

"We did really well and were worthy of the point," said joint Croesyceiliog manager Neil Gilmore, who saw defender Michael Dewar undeservedly red-carded following an off-the-ball incident with visiting striker Dane Williams.

"We stuck to our task and battled throughout and could even have scored on a couple of occasions."

Teenage striker Zac Osbourne shot high and wide before the break, substitute marksman Mark Jones could also have done better with a late chance - although Croesyceiliog were grateful to goalkeeper John Bailey for a fine save to deny visiting defender Richard Stevens.

In Division Two, under-strength Llanwern slipped a place to seventh after losing 1-0 at Pontyclun, where Richard Shire struck a post, while Cwmbran Celtic were in action twice over the weekend.

On Saturday, a penalty from Shaun Matthews earned them a 1-0 win at Llangeinor to move up a position to 11th while yesterday they travelled to Garden Village, but were beaten 2-0.

At the bottom, Tredegar Town went down 3-1 at Ely Rangers and are now in grave danger of being relegated.

"We've only three games left and we need certainly to win two of those to give ourselves any chance," said player-manager Andrew York, who witnessed Craig Burgess scoring his side's consolation.

In-form Aberbargoed Buds travelled to Cwmaman Institute without the services of no fewer than five regulars - Ross Mazurczak, Dean Randall, Chris Duggan, Ian Williams and Iwan Ahearne - but they still stretched their unbeaten run to a seventh game with a 1-1 draw, thanks to a Nathan Edwards goal.

"We should have because we had much the better of the game," said Buds boss Billy Vaughan, whose side is now 10 points adrift of a promotion spot with a match in hand.

Risca United slipped another place to 11th after they lost 2-1 at Newcastle Emlyn, where Brendan Scott was their scorer, and Monmouth won 2-1 at Llantwit Fardre with goals coming from Andrew Rogers and Matthew Bowen.

Monmouth were also in action yesterday when they entertained Cwmamman United with Elliot Ford and Andrew Rogers scoring the goals in a 2-1 victory.

Goytre have struggled somewhat of late, so a thumping 6-1 success at relegation-threatened Ystradgynlais was more than welcome.

Rob Surtees claimed a hat trick, with other goals coming from Adam Roberts (2) and Craig Jolliffe.

However, the game is almost up for bottom-placed Abertillery Excelsiors, who lost for the 21st time in 31 league starts - this time 5-1 at home to AFC Llwydcoed after Matthew Lewis had given them a 20th-minute lead.

Midweek fixtures involving Gwent clubs (kick-offs 6.30pm unless stated): Tuesday: Division One - Croesyceiliog v Newport YMCA; Pontardawe Town v Caldicot Town. Division Three - Risca United v Merthyr Saints; Seven Sisters v Aberbargoed Buds. Wednesday: Division One - Cwmbran Town v Caerleon (7.15pm). Division Two - Cwmbran Celtic v Treharris Athletic. Division Three - Goytre v AFC Llwydcoed; Monmouth Town v Ystradgynlais.