GWENT COUNTY LEAGUE

AFTER reporting on the atrocious weather we have experienced this winter last week was no different when on Wednesday 15 fixtures were lost followed on Saturday by 17 falling foul of the weather.

As a result the Gwent County League season has been extended again fixtures will now finish on Saturday May 23.

Two First Division fixtures that were played on Wednesday - the east Gwent derby between Chepstow Town and Undy Athletic at Larkfield resulted in a 3-3 draw with Daniel Saunders (2) and Julian Saunders, scoring for Chepstow and bottom club Mardy AFC returning from Blaenavon Blues with a 3-2 victory.

Saturday also saw only two fixtures played, Mardy AFC gaining the double over visitors Blaenavon Blues with a 4-3 win, these two victories giving Mardy a hope of avoiding relagation, and Clydach Wasps defeated for the second time this season when visitors Coed Eva Athletic took the spoils in a 3-2 victory.

In the Second Division Wednesday saw three games survive.

Llanhilleth Athletic defeated Rogerstone AFC 5-2, leaders PILCS defeated local rivals Fairfield United 4-1 at home and second placed Sudbrook Cricket Club ground out a single goal victory over Newport Corinthians.

On Saturday in the only game played in the division PILCS took maximum points with a 4-3 home win over Rogerstone AFC to give them a five point advantage at the top.

The Third Division saw only one game played over the two days, Whiteheads AFC entertaining Rockfield Rovers at Bassaleg on Saturday, Rockfield extending their lead at the top by ten points with a 4-2 victory.

GWENT CENTRAL LEAGUE

ONLY one game survived the weather this week. Pen-y-Pound Stadium was declared fit for play for Abergavenny Thursdays to host to Panteg. At half-time Panteg established 3-1 lead and went on to win the match 6-1.

Goalscorer for Thursdays was Chris Powell and scorers for Panteg were Dean Harris, Luke Whittam, Gavin Millar (2), Niall James and Mike Gumm. Man of the Match for Thursdays was Shane Barry. Man of the Match for Panteg, Gavin Millar. Thursdays stay in 14th position. Panteg keep third position.

Due to the bad weather the league has only played five games. Among Saturday’s casualties was the P & P Pest Control Open Cup Round Two match, Llanarth A vs Cwmffrwdoer, which was postponed for the fourth time and also the P & P Pest Control quarter final, Pontypool Town A v Clydach Wasps match.

This week sees the start of the league and cup mid-week games, attempting to catch up on all the season’s postponed games. Whether we succeed or not depends on the weather, but there is a lot of drying out to do on the pitches.

NORTH GWENT LEAGUE

ONCE again the wet weather took its toll on matches in this area last Saturday with all but two matches being postponed - a great start to the month of April!

The only two matches that survived saw Brynmawr recover from the previous week’s heavy Cup defeat by thrashing Coed Duon 10- 0 in the First Division to maintain their challenge near the top of the table.

The other match in the Reserve Division saw league leaders Excelsior A defeat their C team 3- 2 to consolidate their position as leaders.

The midweek matches started with eight games being played on Tuesday.

In the Premier Division Garnlydan had to battle to overcome a determined Nantyglo team, finally winning 2-0 to continue their pursuit near the top of the table, and the other match saw lowly Rassau Rangers collect a vital point in their fight to avoid possible relegation with a 1-1 home draw against Tredegar Arms.

In the First Division the surprise of the day saw The Oak defeat previously unbeaten league leaders Neuadd Wen 5- 2 which may give heart to the chasing two teams Brynmawr and Fleur De Lys.

PFS Athletic defeated Coed Duon 3- 0 and Fleur De Lys recorded a 5-0 home victory over basement Club King David.

Three matches in the Reserve Division saw RTB Ebbw vale travel to Rhymney B and c0me away with a 2-1 victory and Treowen moved up to second place in the table with a 2-1 home victory over Trinant while Bluebirds and Crusaders B shared the spoils with a 1-1 draw.

NEWPORT & DISTRICT LEAGUE

ALL but one game in Saturday and Sunday leagues was called off, due to Torfaen, Newport and Caerphilly Parks being unfit.

The only game to take place was between the Premier X leaders Marshfield and Caerleon Town. Both teams endured the downpour at the start of the game and played well on a thoroughly soaked pitch. The game started slowly, but three goals in ten minutes from Martin Rees (2) and Gareth Georgeaidis put Marshfield ahead 3 - 0 at half time.

The second half started with much more pressure and possession from Marshfield, with Nathan Marshall commanding the centre of pitch and spreading the play well. However, Caerleon Town got back into the game with a well taken penalty.

At 3-1 Caerleon became more attack minded. This proved a bad move, as Georgadis scored within a minute of the restart with a superb lob from an acute angle.

More goals followed from Gareth Strange, Georgeaidis and within two minutes of coming on after six weeks suspension from Ian Summers who lobbed the keeper to seal 7-1 win.

With six games left to play, Marshfield look odds on to take the Premier X title for the second consecutive season and gain automatic entry into the Gwent County Football League.

All postponed games in the Fire & Ice Junior Cup and the Villa Dino Plate will be played next Saturday.

If any matches are called off then the Junior Cup semi finals on the following Tuesday will be put back to a later date.