Gwent County League Division Three

THREE first-half goals boosted Mathern to second place in the division at the expense of local rivals Thornwell Red & White last Saturday.

After a goalless first 20 minutes during which both teams wasted chances, Mathern took the lead.

Mathern keeper Oli Aleman (CORRECT) turned a powerful goal-bound header by Dan Corbett around a post before, at the other end, the visitors’ man of the match Alex Bell opened the scoring, firing a low drive past Thornwell keeper Dan Northey.

Minutes later, Northey dropped a high lob at the feet of Rob Wood who gratefully accepted the early Christmas gift to double the lead.

Just before the break, Wayne Duffield made it 3-0 with a free kick which was diverted past the luckless Northey by one of his defenders.

The second half saw more chances created and wasted on both sides although Thornwell can thank Northey for two excellent saves, blocking a powerful shot from Rich Wood and then tipping Tom Marmont’s drive from the rebound, over the bar.

“It was a typical local derby,” said Mathern boss Dean Thomas.

“There was plenty of commitment on both sides and some really good football played so it’s ironic that the goals were pretty scrappy.

“We carved out much better chances in the second half but either poor finishing or their keeper prevented us from scoring more.”

Thornwell manager Ian Stafford was disappointed but thought Aleman’s save was a crucial one.

“I believe we were the better team in the first 25 minutes and if Dan’s header had gone in, I think we would have gone on to score more,” he said.

“But we gifted them the second and third goals and it was always going to be hard to get back in it. Northey kept us in it with some good stops but we weren’t having a great deal of luck upfront.”

Elsewhere in Division Three, Caldicot Castle had Rusty Shackle musicians James and Scott McKeon on target as they beat visiting Ponthir 2-1.

“It was a very good team performance that would have been even more convincing if Ponthir's keeper hadn’t been in excellent form,” manager David Adamson said.

“He made some fine saves including one unbelievable stop from Richard Thorn’s header.”

This Saturday, Castle are away to league leaders Sebastopol, Mathern visit Tranch and Thornwell visit Pontnewydd United makes some fine stops including one

In Division 2 Blackrock Rovers – who lost 1-0 at Marshfield on Saturday - are home to New Inn,