Pentwynmawr Athletic 0-4 Blaenavon Blues

A late penalty gave the Blues the opportunity to maintain their 100 percent start to the new season as they over came rivals Abertillery Excelsior's.

The Blues welcomed Abertillery Excelsior's to the Memorial ground on Saturday afternoon, with both sides looking to capitalise on an opening day win. Blaenavon Blues made the best possible start to the new Gwent County league division one season with a superb victory on the road.

The Blues travelled to Pentwynmawr Athletic in positive spirits after a good pre-season, which saw them lose only one of their eight warm up games. New manager Ryan Durham has put his stamp on the squad with wide men Illtyd Caddick and Craig Tanner taking up new roles in defence alongside veteran Darren Harris with Marc Browning taking up the right back slot.

The first half was a nip and tuck affair as both sides probed for a weakness in the opposition, it was the Blues who took the lead with five minutes of the first half remaining, attacking midfielder Lee Penry hit a half volley from 30 yards that caught the home keeper out as the ball flew over his head.

The Blues dominated the second half and created a number of good chances. Lloyd Jefferies was unlucky not to double the Blues lead early in the second half when Craig Harris played a brilliant ball past the defender only for Jefferies lob to land the wrong side of the bar.

It wasn’t long before the Blues did get a second when some good work down the right saw Browning whip a cross in towards skipper Mike Waite who guided the ball past the home keeper.

The Blues now fully in control of the game scored the goal of the game with some great one touch football opening up Pentwynmawr, with Caddick over lapping down the left flank he put a great ball in the box for Jefferies to fire home.

Jefferies put the icing on the cake for the away side when Harris put him in on goal and the young striker coolly slotted the ball home to make it 0-4.

A great team effort from a young Blues squad full of Blaenavon boys, Chris Jones in the Blues goal didn’t put a foot wrong behind the Blues defence which looked solid all night, Jamie Brankley worked tirelessly in the centre of the park and Matthew Burns was up and down the left wing all night linking up with full back Caddick.