Winning streak comes to end (From Free Press Series)

Winning streak comes to end

Abercarn 4 Mardy 3

MARDY shot their Gwent County hopes in the foot after surrendering a 2-0 lead to struggling Abercarn and with it any realistic chance of a place in the top four.

The shock defeat means Mardy are now likely to finish fifth in the Division One table behind Spencer Youth, whom they easily beat just two weeks ago.

Mardy's eight-game winning run was brought to end by third-placed Cwmbran Celtic last week, but the club did well to regain their footing after beating strong mid-table side Undy in midweek.

The win meant Mardy were still in contention for a top-four finish, but that hope was all but ended on Saturday with the numbing defeat at Abercarn.

Manager Gavin Butler admitted the defeat undermined all the club's recent good work.

"It takes the shine off a bit," he said. "The season has been tarnished a little now after we had done so well to climb into the top four with eight victories in a row.

"After doing the hard work against Undy, losing at Abercarn is very, very disappointing. "We can't afford to mull on it for too long, though. We've got our final game of the season this Saturday and we must win."

That game is at home to sixth-placed Clydach Wasps, who have two games in hand over Mardy.

Butler will be looking for a final flurry of goals from Phillip Melville, who bagged his tenth of the season against Abercarn. Simon Phillips and Greg Roberts got the other two. Saturday's game kicks off at 3pm.

Mardy manager Gavin Butler has won the manager-of-the-month award for March, in recognition of his side's brilliant eight-game unbeaten run.

Butler said: "This is a testament to the team and belongs just as much in their hands as mine."

This is the first time a Mardy manager has won the award.