Crick are made to work for win (From Free Press Series)

Crick are made to work for win

CRICKHOWELL A stretched their lead at the top of Gwent Central League Division One to nine points after a 3-1 win at home to Panteg.

The league leaders were made to work hard for their victory and were being held 1-1 at half-time. Craig Bennett scored for the home side while Panteg scored through Dave Colhoun.

But two second half goals by Craig Thomas and Bennett sealed the victory.

Crickhowell's man of the match was Owain Jones while Panteg's star player was Chris Wilkins.

Second-place Govilon slipped further behind the leaders after a 2-2 home draw with Tranch.

Gavin Reen gave Govilon the half-time lead but Chris Watkins hit back for Tranch with just two minutes of the match remaining.

Govilon thought they'd won it when Dean Morgan made it 2-1 but Mark Walker equalised in the dying seconds.

Govilon MoM: Jamie Wilkins; Tranch MoM: Mark Walker.

Gilwern & District moved up to third after their 3-2 away win over Usk Town.

But they left it late as Usk led 2-1 with just 15 minutes to go after goals by Marc Strangemore and Dan Bevan with Chris Davies scoring for Gilwern.

Late goals by Richie James and Adam Carrington won it for Gilwern.

Gilwern MoM: Gareth Rees; Usk MoM: Jeremy Barton.

Lower New Inn and Cwmffrwdoer swap positions after Doer's 4-2 win. Lower New Inn led 1-0 at the break thanks to Kyle Hazard but the home side hit back through Kyle Tovey after good work by Robby Peak. They then went ahead when Owain York blasted home a penalty only for the visitors to equalise when Alun Willis converted a Simon Heatman cross.

Doer completed their 4-2 win with goals by David Greenhalgh and a Ross Peak header.

Doer MoM: Chris Bradbury; Lower New Inn MoM: Allan Samson. Blaenavon Blues took all three points after beating Pontypool Town A 3-2 with goals by Alun Scammell (2) and Marc Browning. Pontypool's goals came from Andy Pollard and Jason Stokes. Blues MoM: Alun Scammell; Pontypool MoM: Jason Stokes.

Clydach Wasps recorded a 5-2 victory over old rivals Mardy with Nicky Brown (2), Mattie Edward (2) and Grant Gwilliam on the scoresheet.

Jonathan Davies scored both Mardy goals. Matthew McCarthy was sent off for Mardy.

Wasps MoM: Allan Elmore; Mardy MoM: James Edwards.

Llanarth came back from a goal down to beat Goytre 3-1. Mike Dixon had put Goytre ahead but goals by Paul Rennie and Rikki Knight (2) gave Llanarth the edge.

Llanarth MoM: Steve Morgan; Goytre MoM: Richard Minor.

With Division Two leaders Prescoed not playing, Race reduced their lead after a 3-2 away win at Gilwern B.

Jayde Kelly gave the home side the lead but Matthew Williams levelled for Race.

Gilwern went ahead ahead through Kieron Shevlin but Williams and Paul Cook sealed the win for Race.

Race MoM: Michael George; Gilwern MoM: Chris Rees.

Abergavenny Thursdays moved up to third with a resounding 7-1 win over Llanarth B. Star of the show was Kieron James who scored five goals while Ross Fury hit a brace. Sub Anthony Kromrie scored Llanarth B's consolation goal.

Pandy continued their winning ways with a 6-1 away win at Fairfield United. Mark Hopkins (2), Mark Hughes, Jason Osbourn, Rob Beat and Michael Smith were their scorers. Glenn Rees scored for Fairfield.

New Inn beat Usk Town B 4-1 with Nicky McAndrew scoring twice. Wayne Wright and Carl Brown were also goalscorers for New Inn while Rob Morris got the Usk goal.

New Inn MoM: Jeff Tozer; Usk MoM: Ryan Phillips.

Sebastopol edged a seven-goal thriller against Pontypool Town B.

Alex Hughes and Ian Mruk scored two apiece while all Pontypool's goals came from hat-trick hero Richard Wakeline.

Sebastopol MoM: Ian Doughty; Pontypool MoM: Richard Wakeling.