THEY celebrated long into the night after Newport YMCA secured a first MacWhirter Welsh League win of the season – at the eighth attempt.

There were also happy smiling faces in the dressing-rooms of Cwmbran Town and Caldicot Town after both halted poor form with a 1-1 draw, but Caerleon were beaten 6-0 at home while ten-man Croesyceiliog continue to struggle near the foot of the Division One table.

In Division Two, Llanwern were knocked off the top following a narrow away reverse while Division Three newcomers Newport Civil Service regained their status as the county’s highest-placed Gwent club.

But it was at Mendalgief Road where the loudest sighs of relief could be heard as YMCA downed visiting Bridgend Town 2-0 with a goal from Aaron Stewart and the returning Steve Edwards, who made his seasonal debut after recovering from a wrist injury.

“This was a big win for us, it’s been a long wait but we’re up and running now,” said YMCA boss Mark Coldrick.

“We haven’t had much rub of the green in league games, so this was just reward for some of that.

“Bridgend made it difficult for us, even though we might have led at the break.

“But we came out of the traps sharper after the interval with Aaron (Stewart) soon putting us one up.

“Bridgend seemed to go back into their shells then with Steve (Edwards) getting our second.

“It was great to see Steve return and gradually we are getting everyone back. Craig James has recovered from injury, but was missing because of a holiday and only pre-season signing Craig Jones (ankle) is out at the moment.”

Despite the win, YMCA, who host Briton Ferry Athletic in a Welsh Cup second-round tie on Saturday, remain bottom with three of the four teams above them all from Gwent – Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran and Caerleon.

Croesyceiliog had Luke Fernquest sent off in a 1-0 defeat by visiting Afan Lido, while Caerleon were crushed 6-0 at home by Bettws, whose emphatic success took them to the top.

The Crows, however, did earn themselves a point after they led visiting Caldicot thanks to a fourth-minute goal from striker Joey Carless – the visitors equalising through marksman Gareth Cullimore.

The home side had the slight edge before the break before Caldicot, who twice struck the crossbar and also saw Crows goalkeeper Richard Jefferies make a fine late save to deny Cullimore the winning goal, eventually got on top to dominate the final 25 minutes.

“We played them off the park in the second half and had enough chances to have won it,” said disappointed Caldicot player-manager Simon Wetter, whose side ended a run of two successive defeats to move up to seventh place.

“We weren’t at the races in the first half, but this was still a good point for us, mainly because it was an improved performance than of late.”

The point meant Cwmbran halted an horrendous run of five successive defeats, and they’ve moved above Croesyceiliog into 16th position.

“We wanted something out of this game and a point is most certainly welcome,” remarked Crows boss Gary Proctor.

“Although our shape went a bit in the second half, the overall display means we’ve something to build on.

“I’m pleased and it’s certainly better than the last five weeks. A point is better than nothing.”

Llanwern have been slightly off- colour recently – although they started at Penrhiwceiber Rangers as Division Two leaders.

However, they slipped to second following a 1-0 defeat, striker Steve Perszewski blazed a penalty over the crossbar and there was more bad news on the injury front when Marcus Power was carried off with a serious ankle injury.

The previous week, Llanwern forward Junior Borg broke a leg and defender Lloyd Davies suffered a deep cut to a knee in the 3-1 home derby win over Cwmbran Celtic, while the club also has three other players sidelined waiting for surgery.

In-form striker Scott Lanyon grabbed another two goals, the second with a well-executed overhead kick, as Celtic dropped two places to tenth following a 2-2 draw at Maesteg Park Athletic, while Paul Reed scored as Tredegar Town moved up four to sixth as a result of a 1-0 victory at Newcastle Emlyn.

In Division Three, NCS visited fifth-placed Porthcawl Town, where striker Mark Millinship and an own goal contributed to a fine 2-1 success to take the city outfit up a couple of rungs to eighth.

“We did enough to earn the win and it’s been a good start for us in our first season at this level,” said Civil player-boss Ben Burrows, who guided his side to the 2007-08 Gwent County League title.

Slipping down from seventh to tenth are Goytre, who had only a penalty from Darren Haines to show for it in a 3-1 defeat at table-topping AFC Porth, while Risca United scored via Warren Deraven (2), Blaine Llewellyn and Mark Mears to move up one to 11th with a solid-looking 4-1 win at Seven Sisters.

Fourth-from-the-bottom Aberbargoed Buds’ efforts in a 2-2 home draw with Cwmamman Institute came via Dean Randall and Nathan Speller, but troubled Monmouth Town remain with only Merthyr Saints below them after being beaten 4-1 at Troedyrhiw – where Sam McCoy scored their consolation.

The Kingfishers went into the match minus a manager following the midweek sacking of Nick Oxford and they’ve now lost six of their opening seven league games and they also made early exits from both the Welsh Cup and the Nathaniel League Cup.