FOOTBALL: East Gwent Senior League Round-up (From Free Press Series)

FOOTBALL: East Gwent Senior League Round-up

11:30am Tuesday 26th February 2013 in Sport

MATHERN Wanderers continued their march towards the Division 1 title with a 6-0 home victory over Blackrock Rovers, all the goals coming in the first half.

Having lost only once this season - to opposition from Division 1 of the Gwent County League - Mathern manager Gareth Moore is hoping his team can maintain their unbeaten record to the end of the season.

"We were poor in the second half," he admitted. "We are looking good for the league title but we want to win the cup competitions so there will be no letting up.

"Everyone wants to beat us so we’ll treat every game as a cup final from now on."

Wayne Duffield (2), Steve Jones (2), Shane Dash and Tom Marmont scored the goals.

Rovers’ manager Leigh Taylor was keen to take some positives out of the defeat.

"We were forced to make a few changes and we struggled and defended poorly in the first half," he said.

"The lads regrouped and put up a fight in the second half but we didn’t threaten their goal. We need to improve for the Gill Cup semi final against Mathern on March 23rd."

Underwood returned to winning ways with a 3-2 home victory over Chepstow Town and Undy Athletic won 3-1 at Chepstow Athletic while Severn Tunnel NP A also triumphed 3-1 at Caldicot Town thanks to goals from Chris Owram, Dougie Drummond and Marc Carter Selwood.

Chepstow Athletic manager Andrew Methuen said his team outplayed Undy in the first half and led through a goal by John List.

"Unfortunately, we sat back after the break and they scored twice," he said.

"I thought their third should have been ruled out for offside and we lost our keeper for the last 15 minutes but on the whole, it was a much better performance."

Meanwhile, most Division 2 teams were engaged in Fishwick Cup matches, Mathern Wanderers B winning 5-3 after extra time in their tie at Sudbrook CC, Thornwell Red & White disposed of Portskewett & Sudbrook 6-2 and Caldicot Castle B won 11-0 at Severn Tunnel NP B.

Tintern Abbey, who had already played their tie, beat Castle C 8-1 in the only league match.

This weekend sees some interesting clashes in the Benevolent Cup quarter-final ties.

(KO 2pm) Mathern Wanderers A v Severn Tunnel A; Underwood v Thornwell; Castle B v Blackrock Rovers and Tintern Abbey v Mathern Wanderers B.

The lighter evenings mean a 2.45pm KO for Division 1 match between Undy Athletic and Chepstow Town and Division 2 matches Severn Tunnel B v Castle C and Sudbrook CC v Portskewett and Sudbrook.