Mardy lose out in tight encounter (From Free Press Series)

Mardy lose out in tight encounter

Cwmbran Celtic 3 Mardy 2

MARDY'S hopes of a top three finish were crushed by third place Cwmbran Celtic on Saturday and with it their glorious eight game unbeaten run.

Manager Gavin Butler was the first to concede his side has no chance of making into the Gwent County Division One top three.

But the former Mardy player quickly challenged his side to better last year's seventh place finish - the highest in the club's history - by ending the season on a high inside the top five.

Mardy remain in fourth despite losing on Saturday with Spencer Youth just one place below them. They have three games left to hold onto that prized place and keep Spencer at bay.

"If we want to finish fourth we have to win our next three games. If we do then fourth is a real possibility. Fifth though is in our hands and that means getting as many wins as possible," said Butler.

Will Hughes' curling 25-yard free kick had given Mardy the lead against Celtic, but the Torfaen side equalised with a decisive shot just before the stroke of half time.

"It was a terrible time to concede and was all down to us. We went to sleep and were flat footed so they caught us square. We deserved to be in the lead, but that goal cost us the match. It was the turning point and when the game was won and lost. If we had held in there until half time our heads would have been up and theirs down," said Butler.

Two more Mardy errors including a red card for Robert Frost after a deliberate hand ball in the box saw Celtic nervously stretch away. They never really had the upper hand in the game and knew it, yet had some how stolen the lead and were mightily grateful for it.

"We more than matched up to them and I think we were better than them in some areas. They have come off the field delighted to have won. It seemed to be their cup final and that speaks volumes for us because it proves how big a scalp we now are.

"I have no doubt we have set a level, which maybe is better than there's. We can go on a lot further now," said Butler.

Phillip Melville edged Mardy back into the match at 3-2, but despite controlling most of the on-field play they just couldn't muster the equaliser.

Butler was quick to rally his troops urging them to forget the result and look ahead to this Saturday's game away at Abercarn. The match kicks off at 3pm.