Gwent Central League round-up (From Free Press Series)

Gwent Central League round-up

Sebastopol stay on top of Division One with an 11 point lead over Tranch Utd whose local derby game on Wednesday with Pontypool Town was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

In mid-week Crickhowell went down 5-4 away to Panteg whose goals were scored by Lewis Williams (2), Lew Gwilliam, Tom Daley and Richard Johnson.

Crickhowell goal scorers were Leighton James, David Walters, Matthew Stephens and Jonny Webb. Man of the match for Panteg was Lee Gwilliam and for Crickhowell was James Webb. Panteg had Paul Hales sent off and hold 13th position in Division One.

Crickhowell are in third position. Crickhowell's Saturday match with Goytre was cancelled. Mardy recorded a mid-week 6-0 win over Lower New Inn. Mardy led 4-0 at half-time. Goal scorers for Mardy were Aaron Davies (2), Stewart Smith, Robert Howells, Jamie Laurent and Marn Davies. Mardy's man of the match was Stewart Smith and for Lower New Inn it was Tim Lane.

Fairfield United collected a valuable three points from a 1-0 away win at Gilwern & District. The goal was scored by man of the match, Ben Forward, in the second half.

Three good wins take Race B to the top of Group B in the Free Press Cup.

On Monday, Race B won a local derby match at Pontypool B 8-0 with goals by Matthew Williams (2), Craig Russell, Michael George, Paul Hayward, Paul Cook and Wayne Jobbins.

On Thursday evening Race B won 4-1 at home to Aber Thursdays with Wayne Jobbins scoring twice, as well as Matthew Williams and Paul Hayward. David Lambert scored for Thursdays. Man of the match for Race B was Scott Jenkins and for Thursdays was Jamie McIndo.

Race B finished the week with a 1-0 win over Blaenavon Blues. The all-important goal was scored in the 80th minute from the penalty spot by Gary Whelan. These wins put Race six points clear of Blaenavon with one game left to play - at home to Pontypool B on Tuesday. Blaenavon Blues have two games left to play; Monday at home to Aber Thursdays and on Wednesday at home to Pontypool B.

Also in Group B, Blaenavon Blues won 5-2 away to Pontypool B, Ryan Keen scored a hat-trick to take his seasons goal-scoring tally to 38. Chris Morgan and Damian Heward scored one apiece. At one stage Pontypool B led 2-0 with goals by Matthew Didcott and Stuart Price, the Blues pulled the game back to 2-2 at half-time before going on to win.

Prescoed played their last game of the competition and finished up by beating PILCS 7-0 in Group A. The match was played in very wet conditions on Wednesday evening. Goal scorers for Prescoed were Marvin Adams (4), Aaron Smith, Shaun Bailey and Paul Hannon. Man of the match was four-goal hero Marvin Adams.

On Saturday in Division One, Pontypool Town got back to winning ways with a 4-2 home win over Gilwern & District, who led 1-0 at half-time from a Jayde Kelly goal. In the second half Pontypool Town had goals from Steve Bennett (2), and one each from Jason Stokes and Shane Thomas.

Jayde Kelly scored another goal for Gilwern in the second half. Man of the match for Pontypool Town was Gary Davies and for Gilwern was Steve Williams. Pontypool Town are in 12th position and Gilwern & District are in sixth position.

Govilon failed to raise a team for their visit to New Inn in the Free Press Cup Group A. This is the third time this season that they have failed to raise a side in the Gwent Central and they face disciplinary action from the league.

Sebastopol B beat Pontypool B 2-1 in Group B. Ryan Atherton and Scott Smith scored for Sebastopol B. Gareth Chapman scored for Pontypool B who had Mark Crocket sent off. The two semi-finals of the A Jones & Co, Usk, Langdon Cup were played on Monday evening. Gilwern & Dist beat Cwmffrwdoer 3-1.

Jayde Kelly put Gilwern into a 1-0 lead with a goal scored in the 60th minute from a close-range tap in. In the 70th minute, Chris Bradbury scored with a close-range shot following a goal mouth scramble to put Cwmffrwdoer level at 1-1.

Straight from the restart Jason Mason collected the ball in the centre circle, he made his way forward and hammered the ball into the Cwmffrwdoer net in the 71st minute.

The match was sealed for Gilwern & District in the 80th minute when Matthew Williams lobbed 'Doer keeper Sam Morris to book Gilwern & District into the Langdon Cup final. In the other semi-final Llanarth beat Pontypool Town 3-0. Llanarth went into a 1-0 lead in the first minute of the match when Peter Maddocks cashed in on a goal mouth scramble and scored from six yards.

In the 50th minute of the second half David Tengue put Llanarth 2-0 in front when he scored with a header from a Mike Morgan corner. Peter Maddocks wrapped things up for Llanarth on the hour when he swooped on a defensive back pass by the Pontypool Town defence to their keeper.

Gilwern & Dist will play Llanarth in the final at Goytre FC on Friday, May 14, kick-off 6pm.