PANTEG boss Paul Thomas was looking for three points as his side travelled to Coed Eva last night, knowing a win would lift his men up from 11th to eighth and above this Saturday's opponents, Albion Rovers.

Panteg have enjoyed a mixed season, hovering in mid-table in Gwent County Division One since the autumn. But Thomas is keen to end the campaign on a high after suffering a 3-1 the weekend defeat to fourth-placed Abercarn.

Thomas said: "We played well for the first 20 minutes on Saturday and we were camped in their half. We had a couple of chances, but didn't take them, then we've conceded two sloppy goals in five minutes thanks to defensive errors."

United were able to take the lead when a corner was insufficiently cleared by the Panteg defence; then a cross was not headed away and allowed the hosts to double their advantage before half time. 20 minutes into the second half, Nick Gwilliam pulled one back for Panteg with a 25-yard free kick into the corner of the net and thereafter the visitors looked good for at least a point.

Luke Whittam set off on a mazy run which saw him skip past five men and then chip the keeper, but the ball bounced safely wide. Then Paul Morgan struck a volley goalbound but also missed the target.

It was perhaps inevitable after failing to equalise then that United would break and score at the other end with ten minutes to go.

Thomas added: "I would have been happy with a point and we really should have scored towards the end, but then we conceded that last goal and its game over."