Mardy look for fourth (From Free Press Series)

Mardy look for fourth

Panteg 1 Mardy 4

MARDY manager Gavin Butler reckons his side has every chance of finishing inside the top four of the Gwent County League after watching his men tear apart a well-organised Panteg outfit.

The stakes have been raised following Saturday's demolition job and now Butler, who had before set his sights on a top five finish in the Division One table, has challenged his men to go even further.

"We're more than capable of finishing fifth in the table - there's no question about that. It's even possible that we could get into fourth because we're only four points of Spencer Youth," he said.

Strikers Leon Gilchrist and Adam White are the two men that could fire Mardy into that famed uncharted territory Butler now craves. The two marksmen have formed one of the league's most prolific partnerships in front of goal this season as their boss testified.

"Leon and Adam are giving the opposition a torrid time. It took quite a number of games for Adam to get used to playing away from the midfield, but he has now settled and they are working superbly together," said Butler.

Against a competitive Panteg side, Mardy looked in control as they dominated down the flanks and spread the ball with width and authority.

"What we did right was take the chances that we made. I have been saying for weeks that if we did that we would win handsomely and on Saturday we did just that," said Butler.

Sweeper Greg Roberts got the first from the penalty spot after the impressive Tom Overton was brought down in the box before Leon Gilchrist made it two. Mardy then stretched their lead with another first-half goal from the boot of Phillip Melville only for Panteg to claw one back to make it 3-1 at the break.

"Panteg's tails were up because of that goal, but we weathered the storm well. Our keeper, Mark Ashbolt made the best save I have seen this season. It was crucial because if that had gone in they would have been right back in it," said Butler.

Adam White's second half effort sealed all three points as Mardy made it four wins on the bounce. Now Butler wants his high flyers to make it five in a row this Saturday against RTB Ebbw Vale.

"We have got to win it's as simple as that," he said.

Saturday's game kicks off away at RTB Ebbw Vale at 3pm.