It's a Jolliffe good show (From Free Press Series)

It's a Jolliffe good show

Chepstow Town 4 FP Pontlanffraith 2

TOWN did their survival hopes no harm at all with a workman like victory over fellow strugglers Fields Park Pontlanffraith.

And with striker Craig Jolliffe getting a long-over due brace it seems the Welsh League club might just be starting to discover the form that will see them pull clear of the relegation rut.

Assistant manager Wayne Samuel was the first to admit the win wasn't pretty, but reckoned it was more than deserved after a season of so many near misses.

"A few words were said at half time because we weren't playing that good a standard of football. At the end of the day though we've played far better and lost so to play relatively poor and win makes a deserved change for the side," reasoned Samuel.

Craig Jolliffe's brace marked the striker's first goals for the club since last Autumn, while Matty Owen continues to prove a revelation up front after switching from centre half to the striker's berth.

He bagged one of his side's other goals before being unusually sent off for trying to calm down a fracas between two players.

"It was a farcical decision," commented Samuel. "Matty just stepped in to separate the players and the referee gave him an automatic red card. We're hoping he retracts the decision because it was clearly uncalled for."

He went on: "Matty has been superb up front and we've been well pleased with his transition from defence. He such a versatile player and has great pace on the ball. He really is a club man's player."

Samuel admitted he did have a small number of concerns with Saturday's performance though said he was pleased the side picked up four goals.

"I would have taken a win regardless so to score four goals was a good turn around in form for us. In saying that we should have shown more composure at times and not let the sending off disrupt our shape so much."

Town now have an unenviable few weeks ahead of them with consecutive mid-week and Saturday fixtures against some of the division's more 'hands on' sides. "The good thing for us is that the majority of the games are home, which makes up for playing so many away at the start of the season.

"We've got some very tough games against sides down the wrong end of the table with us, which could make things more difficult for us.

"The problem we have is we seem to play better against the more successful sides because they play more of a passing game. With all due respect we seem to let the weaker sides bring us down to their level and we don't stamp our own game on them, which we have to do," he insisted.

The club begins it final fight for Welsh League survival tonight away at Llantwit Fadre, kick off 6.30pm, before travelling to Caerau Ely on Saturday, kick off 3pm. The side will be without centre half Daniel Savage and could also be missing Craig Jolliffe due to work commitments.