Thursdays still unbeaten (From Free Press Series)

Thursdays still unbeaten

REJUVENATED Abergavenny Thursdays continued their unbeaten start to their Gwent County League Division Three campaign on Saturday.

They beat Ebbw Vale Town 5-1 with Shane Barry hitting a hat-trick.

But it was the calming influence of defender Mark Tucker and midfielder Mike Pengelly, which impressed coach Kyle Holmes especially as Thursdays had to come back from going a goal down.

"They were big players for us on Saturday. They gave us a very solid look and their experience was vital after going a goal down. Last season we would have panicked but not this time - we equalised almost immediately," said Holmes.

Despite having a bagful of chances, Thursdays could not find a way past the outstanding Ebbw Vale goalkeeper.

And when the visitors pinched a goal late in the first half, Holems began to think it was not his team's day.

But direct from the kick-off, left-winger Darren Hughes went on a solo run and equalised.

In the second half, Thursdays scored twice early on through Barry, Richard McCormack got a fourth before Barry finished things off with his third and his team's fifth.

The victory means Thursdays lie second in the table behind Monmouth Town and are unbeaten in their first six games, having won three and drawn three.

"I'm delighted with the start and we now have more points than we won all season last year," said Holmes.

Thursdays will hope to continue their impressive start when they welcome bottom club FC Dugout on Saturday.