IN AN incident-packed game at Newport Stadium, Llanwern remained MacWhirter Welsh League Division Two leaders thanks to a 3-1 success over nine-man Cwmbran Celtic – but there wasn’t a single win to record among all five of the county’s Division One clubs.

However Llanwern’s victory was overshadowed by serious injuries to a player from each side, who were both taken to the city’s Royal Gwent Hospital in the same ambulance after being carried off on a stretcher before the break – incidents which led to the first half lasting an hour.

Home midfielder Junior Borg, a pre-season signing from Newport YMCA, yesterday underwent surgery on a broken leg while Celtic defender Lloyd Davies, formerly of Cwmbran Town, was eventually discharged after having seven stitches inserted into a deep wound on his right knee.

Borg had earlier set up another ex-Crows player, Kristian Hanbury for a well-taken, fifth-minute goal before Celtic defender Nicky Villars saw red for handling in the penalty area, which led to substitute striker Steve Perszewski making it 2-0 from the penalty spot.

It was 3-0 shortly before the break when Perszewski grabbed his second and although visiting striker Owen Llewellyn reduced the arrears seven minutes into the second period, Llanwern held on to inflict Celtic’s first league defeat of the season.

The win could have been bigger, Perszewski missing out on a hat-trick when his header struck the crossbar while Hanbury’s superbly-executed, over-head goal was ruled out because of pushing.

Llanwern’s victory ended a mini-crisis run of successive cup and league defeats with manager Laurence Owen expressing his satisfaction having seeing his troops return to winning ways.

“I thought we controlled the game for 90 percent of the time and I was very pleased with the effort and work-rate put in by all of my players,” he said.

“There was no way we were going to get beat as the match progressed, there were some solid individual displays and we looked sound at the back.

“The only down side is we failed to keep a clean sheet, but I’m happy with the three points.”

Celtic coach Della Cheedy, on the other hand, was far from being impressed with his side’s display – particularly before the break – and left his players in no doubt as to how he felt in the post-match dressing-room debrief.

“I’m very disappointed with our first-half performance,” said a downbeat Cheedy.

“To be honest, we didn’t get out of the traps, although we earned a bit of respect for sticking to our guns after the interval.

“But what went on in that first half was unacceptable by our own high standards.

“It was lacklustre, there was no commitment or no desire and it was most certainly a bad day at the office for us.”

The leaders won for the fifth time in seven outings, but Celtic’s reverse saw them slip down three places to eighth.

Also down are a trio of positions are Tredegar, from sixth to ninth, after they lost 2-1 at Garden Village, who are third. Nicky Ward grabbed their goal, but Neil Matherson was sent off for foul play.

In Division One, only Croesyceiliog managed a point – their 3-3 draw at free-spending ENTO Aberaman Athletic moving them out of the three-strong relegation zone for the first time this season.

However still in are bottom-placed YMCA, whose 2-0 defeat at Bettws was their fifth in six league matches, and Cwmbran, the only team above the Mendgalief Road outfit, who were 3-1 losers at Bryntirion, where Joey Carless scored their goal.

But the game ended in farcical conditions as both teams had two men sent off as the match referee applied the new edict regarding foul and abusive language, the Crows having Steve Arthur and Marlon Kabi red carded.

Croesyceiliog actually led 2-0 and then 3-1 after Ryan Fahey, Jody Jenkins and Ricky Coff netted.

“Without doubt this was our best display of the season and especially pleasing was the performance of 16-year-old midfielder Jack Thomas after he came on as substitute,” said Croesyceiliog boss Neil Gilmore.

“I’ve decided to give youth a chance here and to be honest because we’ve no budget, I’ve little option.

“However if we continue to apply ourselves like this, we will give ourselves a fair chance of climbing the table.”

Elsewhere early-season pace-setters Caldicot, now sixth, were beaten 1-0 at Dinas Powys while Caerleon lost 4-0 at Afan Lido with recent YMCA signing Brendan Scott failing to draw his side level when they trailed 1-0 after he missed from the penalty spot.

“We defended well for an hour, but sloppiness allowed them to go ahead and then they settled it with a second near the end,” said YMCA boss Mark Coldrick.

In Division Three, Aberbargoed Buds shocked hosts Newport Civil Service in winning 2-1, Goytre defeated visiting Severn Sisters 3-0 while the county derby between Risca United and Monmouth Town went in favour of the home team, who triumphed 2-1.

Liam Palmer put NCS ahead at Shannon Close before goals from Chris Griffiths and Wayne Antoniazzi earned the Buds only their second win from seven starts.

“It was a deserved success and hopefully it will be one which will now set us on our way,” said Buds manager Billy Vaughan.

NCS’ loss and Goytre’s 3-0 home success over Seven Sisters sees the latter now the county’s highest-placed side in the section – Lee Grimes’ well-taken hat-trick moving them up two positions to seventh.

Former player-manager Andrew Smith put Monmouth Town in front at Risca, who recovered to secure the three points thanks to goals from Andy Gay and Warren Derravan.

l Midweek fixture: MacWhirter Welsh League Division Two – Tredegar Town v Grange Harlequins, Tuesday 7pm.