Town suffer embarrassing defeat (From Free Press Series)

Town suffer embarrassing defeat

CHEPSTOW Town slumped to an all-time new low on Saturday after being humiliated by Welsh League villagers Newcastle Emlyn at their Jubilee Way ground.

The dismal 2-1 defeat stretched Chepstow's run without a win to well-over two months and leaves the one-time promotion hopefuls nervously contemplating a fight with relegation.

Twelfth in the table the club has played two more games than AFC Rhondda directly below them and one more match than Fields Park who lie in 14th.

The signs were on the wall for Chepstow late last year when they lost away at newly promoted Goytre FC. That game at Plough Road underlined the side's lack of confidence and shape on the field - a facet of their game that has struggled to improve since then.

The signing of Goytre's top marksman Craig Jolliffe signalled assistant manager Wayne Samuel's keenness for his side to score more goals, but the Pontypool-based striker has never discovered the same prowess he had with his previous club where he was a consistent name on the score sheet - particularly at Gwent County level.

Speaking to the Free Press last week Samuel said that was down to a lack of service and supply from the midfield where Chepstow have looked fragile this season.

Fans, hungry for a marked turn around in form, will be hoping Town's luck changes fast. Having played more games than they have left on their fixture list Town need to grind out some sort of momentum in their remaining 14 matches.

The opportunity is still there for them to claw their way back up the table to mid-table safety and away from relegation. If they don't grasp that opportunity then they risk being slung back into the Gwent County league where many sides will confess it's mightily hard to get back out of.

Caldicot Town's run of consistency continues after a well-earned goaless draw away at the Merthyr Saints - who lie one place below them in the table.

Now in seventh with 26 points from 17 matches played manager Chris Lilygreen must be pleased with the way his side has maintained its solid campaign this term.

Seemingly too far of the leading pack Caldicot still have mathematical chance of pushing for glory this term, though a more realistic target would be a top four finish.

Division One side Llanwern can only dream of such luxuries. They remain third off bottom after Saturday's home thumping by Ton Pentre.

New manager Howard Goddard's very breif honey-moon period as boss is now over and he know's his side has to act fast if they are to drag themselves up the table.

The biggest problem for Llanwern though is Briton Ferry - the side who sit one place above them. With two games in hand and a healthy seven point lead over Llanwern Goodard will be praying for some lottery style luck to halt them pulling away any further.