CALDICOT Town’s next two away games will shape their destiny and decide if they are to become the county’s first Division One champions in 19 years.

Two dropped points from a tense 2-2 draw at Cardiff Corinthians mean Caldicot have slipped to third place behind Port Talbot-based duo Goytre United and Afan Lido.

Caldicot trail table-topping United by five points with a game in hand and Lido on goal difference only – but still must travel to face both.

On Saturday, Caldicot visit United before returning to Port Talbot to tackle Lido the following week and sandwiched in between is an April 21 home encounter with fifth-placed Barry Town.

After going 2-0 down at the Corries, Richard Sharratt reduced the arrears – although top scorer Gareth Cullimore appeared to have passed over a chance to level when his penalty was saved.

But Cullimore was brought down as he attempted to force home the rebound and the made no mistake from the spot second time around for his 25th goal of the season to ensure parity.

Caldicot also had central defender and skipper Gareth Haywood sent off before the recovery.

At the bottom and bearing in mind that five clubs appear certain to be relegated because of end-of-season re-organisation, Caerleon’s task to stay up now appears monumental.

The basement outfit had Simon Truman (penalty, but he later missed from the spot) and Luke Cueto on the mark at Cold Bath Road, but were beaten 3-2 by mid-table visitors Aberaman Athletic Caerleon are now 13 points from safety with only 10 matches remaining and their extremely-difficult task to claw themselves to safety starts with a trio to face Bridgend Town tomorrow.

If they do go down, Caerleon are almost certain to be replaced by Cwmbran Celtic, who are now 14 points clear of the fourth-placed team in Division Two – and with two matches in hand.

Unfortunately, their latest win came over relegation-threatened county neighbours Llanwern, who were beaten 3-0 at Newport Stadium.

Strikers Shane Williamson (2) and Scott Lanyon scored the goals in a match which had both highly controversial and deeply comical moments.

Llanwern’s former Celtic goalkeeper Nicky Church was livid with Cardiff referee Kevin Russell for sending him off for an alleged deliberate handball outside the penalty area.

Many, including joint temporary Llanwern manager Matthew Smith, who later refused to comment on the matter, thought the decision ultimately cost the home side the points.

Smith, alongside defender Denis Spiteri, has been put in charge following the recent resignation of Laurence Owen, who still gives his time to the club.

On Saturday he placed himself on ball-boy duties close to the dug-outs, but found himself being sent off by Mr. Russell, who took exception to a comment made by the ex-Llanwern boss.

Owen made his way some three yards to the other side of the barrier and promptly made the exact same comment to the official – but now as a spectator!

A far happier man was Celtic assistant manager Della Cheedy: “It was a difficult match for us, especially in the first half when Llanwern passed the ball and retained it better.

“But we settled things down after the break, although I’m not so sure that it was a sending off for Nicky (Church) and I’d have rather the referee had let the play go on, so we could have scored a goal.

“But this is a great three points to have in the bag and we are very pleased because this is our first win here in four attempts.”

Elsewhere in the division, Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran Town, Newport YMCA and Tredegar Town all picked up points towards their bids to avoid the drop.

Up to seven could go down and wins for Cwmbran, 2-1 at Newcastle Emlyn, and YMCA, by the same score at home to Caerau (Ely), were most welcome while the county derby between Tredegar and Croesyceiliog ended 1-1.

The Crows made the journey home from their longest trip of the season that much better thanks to goals from Dean Woods and Lloyd Stone while YMCA’s scorers were Phil Tranter, Leon Spargo and Olly Beckett, who fired an 80th-minute winner. Jody Jenkins grabbed his 25th of the season for Croesyceiliog with James Price netting for Tredegar, but this game was clouded by a trio of red cards.

Off for the home team went Nick Ward while dismissed for the visitors were Daniel Mais and Daniel Clouth, although the manner of the Mais’ demise rankled with Croesy chief Gareth Morgan.

“Mais was sent off for foul and abusive language and I don’t have a problem with that ruling,” remarked Morgan.

“But when no less than three Tredegar players later used foul and abusive language towards my goalkeeping coach, no action was taken and I do have a massive problem with that because there is simply no consistency being shown whatsoever by match officials.

“Even the match assessor described one particular decision as ‘diabolical’ and while I give credit to Tredegar for deserving their goal after putting us under good pressure, I feel bitter about what happened.”

In Division Three, a strike from the county’s leading domestic scorer, Ross Fowler, and an injury-time winner from Iwan Ahearne kept Aberbargoed Buds on track for promotion thanks to a 2-1 home derby win over Newport Civil Service, whose effort was an own goal by home player Shane Brewer.

Monmouth Town won a nine-goal thriller against visiting Garw with goals from Elliot Ford (2), Nick Harrhy, Ross Kennedy and Dean Palmer while Luke Lewis and David Gibbs were on target in Abertillery Bluebirds’ 2-0 home success over Seven Sisters. l Midweek matches involving Gwent clubs (6.15pm unless stated). Tuesday: Division One – Brewery Field: Bridgend Town v Caerleon (7.30pm). Division Two – Woodland Road: Croesyceiliog v Cwmbran Celtic (6.30pm). Division Three – Recreation Ground: Aberbargoed Buds v Goytre; Glanaman Road: Cwmaman Institute v Abertillery Bluebirds; Sports Ground: Monmouth Town v Newport Civil Service. Wednesday: Division Two – Llangeinor Park: Llangeinor v Newport YMCA .Thursday: Division Two – Woodland Road: Croesyceiliog v Llanwern (6.30pm). Division Three – Sports Ground: Monmouth Town v Briton Ferry Athletic.

l Hot-Shots: 27 - Ross Fowler (Aberbargoed Buds). 25 – Gareth Cullimore (Caldicot Town); Jody Jenkins (Croesyceiliog). 24 - Phil Tranter (Newport YMCA, 22 for Monmouth Town). 23 - Jason Thorn (Caldicot Town). 22 – Marcus Power (Llanwern). 17 - Owen Llewelyn (Cwmbran Celtic); Scott Lanyon (Cwmbran Celtic). 15 - Owen Goodenough (Abertillery Bluebirds); Graham Mason (Goytre). 12 – Matthew Lawrence (Newport Civil Service); Shane Williamson (Cwmbran Celtic). 11 – Steve Hughes (Cwmbran Town); Liam Havard (Risca Utd). 10 - Martin Houston (Goyte).

l Clean sheets: 11 - Cwmbran Celtic. 10 - Aberbargoed Buds. 8 – Caldicot Town; Newport Civil Service. 7 – Croesyceiliog. 5 – Abertillery Bluebirds; Newport YMCA; 4 – Llanwern. 3 - Goytre; Monmouth Town; Tredegar Town. 2 – Caerleon; Cwmbran Town. 1 – Risca United.