AS LOCAL clubs, officials and fans continue to be confused over the exact make-up of next season’s three divisions, the race to become the county’s top goal-scorer is hotting up, writes Terry Daley.

On Monday, Croesyceiliog marksman Jody Jenkins took his tally to 24 with a double, including a penalty, in a 3-1 home success over former club Cwmbran Town.

The next night Division Two leaders Cwmbran Celtic’s front-man Scott Lanyon made it 16 for the season with the only goal in his side’s 1-0 win at third-placed AFC Llwydcoed.

All are chasing Aberbargoed Buds’ Ross Fowler, who heads the charts with 26 league and cup goals.

However on Wednesday, Llanwern and Newport YMCA both had blanks in drawing 0-0 at home with Penrhiwceiber Rangers and losing 2-0 at Maesteg Park.

Croesyceiliog’s success means they remain 12th of 18, and if eight are relegated because of re-organisation Croesy have enough about them, and games in hand, to retain their status.

As well as doing Celtic a massive favour by holding second-placed Penrhiwceiber, Llanwern’s point put them in ninth position and though teams below them have matches in hand, the Newport Stadium outfit is handily placed to avoid the drop.

The same can’ be said for YMCA, Cwmbran and Tredegar, who are 13th, 14th and 15th, respectively. They have much to do to claw themselves away from the danger zone with the Crows and Tredegar running out of games.

If, as expected, a trio of clubs are promoted from Division Three Aberbargoed Buds are on track to play at a higher level for the first time.They lie third, two points ahead of Corus Steel and with three games in hand trail Briton Ferry Llansawel by seven but having played six matches less.

Division One title-chasing Caldicot Town’s showdown with leaders Goytre United is at Port Talbot-based club’s Glenhafod Park Stadium on April 17.

Before that, Caldicot, who slipped to third following Bryntirion Athletic’s 3-0 home victory over Garden Village on Wednesday, face Cardiff Corinthians away tomorrow when relegation-threatened Caerleon entertain Aberaman Athletic.

There are three county derbies - Llanwern v Cwmbran Celtic at Newport Stadium, Tredegar v YMCA and the Division Three clash between Abertillery Bluebirds and Newport Civil Service.

Saturday’s games involving Gwent clubs: Division One – Cold Bath Road – Caerleon v Aberaman Athletic; Riverside Ground, Radyr: Cardiff Corinthians v Caldicot Town.

Division Two – Newport Stadium: Llanwern v Cwmbran Celtic; Parc Emlyn: Newcastle Emlyn v Cwmbran Town; Mendgalief Road: Newport YMCA v Caerau (Ely); Tredegar Leisure Centre: Tredegar Town v Croesyceiliog.

Division Three – Recreation Ground: Aberbargoed Buds v Newport Civil Service; Cwmnantygroes, Six Bells: Abertillery Bluebirds v Seven Sisters; Sports Ground: Monmouth Town v Garw.

Hot shots: 26 - Ross Fowler (Aberbargoed Buds). 24 – Gareth Cullimore Caldicot Town); Jody Jenkins (Croesyceiliog). 23 - Phil Tranter (Newport YMCA, 22 for Monmouth Town); Jason Thorn (Caldicot Town). 22 – Marcus Power (Llanwern).

Clean sheets: 10 – Aberbargoed Buds. 9 - Cwmbran Celtic. 8 – Caldicot Town; Newport Civil Service. 7 – Croesyceiliog.

Other fixtures: Reserve Division East – Caldicot Town v Abertillery Bluebirds; Croesyceiliog v Aberbargoed Buds; Dinas Powys v Risca United; Ely Rangers v Caerleon; Newport Civil Service v Newport YMCA.

Welsh Auto Parts Gwent County League Division One – Abertillery Excelsiors v Lliswerry; Blaenavon Blues v Spencer Youth & Boys; Chepstow Town v Cwmffrwdoer Sports; Clydach Wasps v Albion Rovers; Govilon v Cefn Forest; Mardy v Abercarn United; Treowen Stars v Undy.

Division Two – AC Pontymister v Newport Corinthians; Llanhilleth Athletic v RTB Ebbw Vale; Malpas Gladiators v Trinant; Panteg v Cromwell; Sudbrook Cricket Club v Fairfield United; Trethomas Bluebirds v P.I.L.C.S.

Division Three – Crickhowell v Llanwern RTB; Fleur-de-Lys Welfare v Sebastopol; Race v Pill; Villa Dino Christchurch v Underwood; Whiteheads v Abergavenny Thursdays.

Knauf Insulation Gwent Central League Premier Division – Pontypool Town v Llanharth; Trevethin v Usk Town.

Division One – Abergavenny Thursdays v Govilon; Cwmffrwdoer v Mardy; Panteg v P.I.L.C.S.; Sebastopol v Race.

Division Two – Clydach Wasps B v Pontypool Town B; Usk Town B v Prescoed.

A Jones & Co (Usk) Benevolent Cup, quarter finals - New Inn v Clydach Wasps; Fairfield United v Blaenavon Blues.

P & P Pest Control Open Cup, quarter final – Pandy v Gilwern & District.

Monmouthshire Building Society Newport & District Premier X – Marshfield v Pontnewydd United; Cwmcarn Athletic v K-2 AFC; St. Julian’s v Henllys Rangers; Pill Hibernians v Tredegar Arms; Shaftesbury Youth v Graig-y-Rhacca; Malpas v Caerleon Town.

Premier Y – Cwmbran Celtic v Lliswerry; AC Pontymister v Albion Rovers; Spencer Youth & Boys v Rogerstone; Villa Dino Christchurch v Newport Corinthians; Lucas Cwmbran v Pill.

Division One – AC Pontymister v Caerleon Town; Malpas v Marshfield; Cwmbran Centre YP v Sporting Baneswell Social; K-2 Reserves v Six in Hand.

Division Two – Marshfield v Newport Eagles; Oakfield Inn v Cwmcarn Athletic; Rogerstone v Racing Club Newport; Graig-y-Rhacca v Cwmbran Celtic.

Division Three – Newport Eagles v Pill; FC Llanyravon v Coed Eva Athletic; Gaer Park Rangers v St. Julian’s; Racing Club Newport v Lucas Cwmbran.

Fire & Ice Junior Cup, quarter finals – Albion Rovers 2nds v Ty-Sign; Bettws Social Clubs 2nds v Ponthir; Pill Mill Hibernians 2nds v Pontnewydd United 2nds.

Villa Dino Plate, quarter finals – County Athletic v Ty-Sign 2nds; Albion Rovers 3rds v Bettws Social Clubs 1sts.