ABERBARGOED Buds manager Billy Vaughan is hoping for déjà vu as his struggling side attempts to come to terms with a highly inconsistent start to the 2008-09 campaign.

The Recreation Ground outfit currently only has bottom-placed Merthyr Saints below them in the MacWhirter Welsh League having won only won and lost five of its opening six Division Three games.

However those in the know will remember how the popular Vaughan turned things around last season, the Buds eventually finishing just seven points off promotion following an equally horrendous start.

“Yes we are looking for our squad to regain that sort of form and it would be great if we could get moving up the table again soon,” said Vaughan.

“We had skipper Iwan Ahearn and goalkeeper Asa Kirkwood both sent off in our opening game and we suffered for having two highly influential players suspended for the next couple of matches.

“We beat Risca United in the Welsh Cup, then Treharris Athletic in the League Cup.

“But then we had stand-in skipper Nathan Edwards dismissed when we were winning 1-0 against Llantwit Fardre, who took full advantage by going onto win 6-1!

“But it’s not about giving excuses because we’ve not defended well enough as well and really need to start to tighten up at the back.”

Vaughan’s side is on the road tomorrow when it travels to face promoted Newport Civil Service, who are Gwent’s highest-placed team in the division in seventh position with three wins from four starts.

“That says it all about the massive task we face to gain something from this match and we need to be bang on form to do so.

“They (NCS) are on a bit of a roll and only lost 1-0 to Welsh Premier League side Caersws recently, so we are aware of how good a team they are.

“But hopefully playing such opponents will bring the best out of us and perhaps a win from a game such as this will kick-start us.

“It happened to us last season, so we are pinning our hopes that history will repeat itself this time around.”

Vaughan reports wide midfielder Edwards, central midfielder Ross, former Manchester City professional Tony Rees plus defender Craig Morgan are all unavailable for the Shannon Close showdown.

Surprisingly, there are no Division One game scheduled to be played in the county with Caldicot Town, Caerleon, Cwmbran Town, Croesyceiliog and Newport YMCA all playing away.

The final trio occupy the bottom three positions in the drop-zone and all need to start to pick up points soon if they are to avoid becoming involved in a season-long relegation battle.

There are two other Gwent derbies – Division Two leaders Llanwern hosting unbeaten fourth-placed side Cwmbran Celtic and the Division Three clash between Risca United and Monmouth Town.

Llanwern will begin on the back of two defeats, including a shocking 6-1 home Welsh Cup reverse at the hands of Division Three outfit AFC Llangeinor, while Celtic are only two points behind with two games in hand having won three and drawn one.

Both Risca and Monmouth have struggled so far with each only having won one match, the former sitting one from the bottom with the latter placed immediately above them.

Saturday’s MacWhirter Welsh League games involving Gwent clubs (all 2.30pm kick offs): Division One - Afan Lido v Caerleon; Bettws v Newport YMCA; Bryntirion Athletic v Cwmbran Town; Dinas Powys v Caldicot Town; ENTO Aberaman Athletic v Croesyceiliog.

Division Two – Garden Village v Tredegar Town; Llanwern v Cwmbran Celtic. Division Three – Goytre v Seven Sisters; Newport Civil Service v Aberbargoed Buds; Risca United v Monmouth Town.

Other fixtures Welsh Autoparts Gwent County League Division One: Coed Eva Athletic v Abertillery Excelsiors, Cwmffrwdoer Sports v RTB Ebbw Vale, Spencer Youth & Boys v Cefn Forest, Undy v Albion Rovers

Division Two: Cromwell v Llanhilleth Athletic, Fairfield United v Govilon, Rogerstone v Newport Corinthians, Sudbrook Cricket Club v Panteg, Tranch v Malpas Gladiators, Trethomas Bluebirds v Lucas Cwmbran, Trinant v Lliswerry

Division Three: Abergavenny Thursdays v Crickhowell, AC Pontymister v Caldicot Castle, New Inn v Llanwern RTB, Underwood v Sebastopol, Villa Dino/Christchurch v Race, West Pontnewydd v Rockfield Rovers, Whiteheads v P.I.L.C.S.

Knauf Insulation Gwent Central League

Premier Division: Usk Town v Trevethin, Goytre v Llanarth, Gilwern & District v Pontypool Town, Lower New Inn v Pandy

Division One: Clydach Wasps v Tranch, Blaenavon Blues v Fairfield United, Panteg v Cwmffrwdoer, Crickhowell v New Inn, P.I.L.C.S. v Sebastopol, Govilon v Abergavenny Thursdays

Division Two: Clydach Wasps B v Gilwern & District B, Llanfoist v Pontypool Town B, Trevethin B v Llanarth B

Monmouthshire Building Society Newport and District League

Premier X: Tradesmans Arms v St Julians, Caerleon Town v Pontnewydd United, Llanwern Sports v Pill AFC, Henllys Rangers v Shaftesbury Youth, Pill Mill Hibernians v Ship & Pilot

Premier Y: Rogerstone v Trethomas Bluebirds, Villa Dino/Christchurch v AC Pontymister, Spencer Youth & Boys v Albion Rovers, Cromwell Youth v Lliswerry, Cwmbran Celtic v Lucas Cwmbran, Newport Corinthians v Whiteheads

Division One: Malpas v Marshfield, Malpas United v Graig-y-Rhacca, Cwmcarn Athletic v Albion Rovers, Pontnewydd United v Ship & Pilot, Lliswerry v Oakfield, Cwmbran Celtic v Caerleon Town