Gwent County League

Division 2

Mathern FC 3 Spencer Youth and Boys 4

MATHERN boss Dean Thomas was in no doubt after this result – Mathern need to be more like Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho!

“We bossed the game for 80 per cent of the game,” a despondent Thomas said after the match which saw his men go behind, equalise and go ahead twice only to allow Spencer to score two late goals to take the points

“It’s hard to be defensive when you are such a good attacking side like we are but we need to learn how to shut games down when we’re ahead, like Mourinho does at Chelsea.

“Everyone is as disappointed as I am. We are playing good football and working hard but we are trying to win by three or four goals instead of settling for a one-goal victory.

“Our attitude was spot on by all players and there was a lot of quality in what we did but if we want to get back on track we need everyone to buy into learning how to shut it down when we are leading.”

Mathern dominated the first half but had nothing to show for it with the score goalless and had been forced to make a change after Keiran Jones had been injured minutes before the break, Shane Murphy deputising.

Spencer came out firing after the break and took the lead through Dale Cooke but with their two speedy wingers Connor Hayden and Alex Jarman keeping the visitors’ defence stretched to both touchlines, Mathern soon equalised when Luke Farley’s pass fell to skipper Alex Bell whose rasping right-foot shot gave keeper Ian Vaughan no chance.

Then a neat back-heel by Farley set up Jarman to put Mathern ahead but within minutes, Spencer striker Danny Bailey scored the first of his three goals to equalise.

Almost from the restart, Hayden was galloping towards goal with the ball at his feet when he was scythed down and was forced to limp off.

Thomas sent on Rory Prettyjohn (for Farley) and Wayne Duffield replaced Elliot Greening and it was Duffield who launched himself at a cross from the right to head past Vaughan with Spencer’s defence appealing in vain for an offside decision.

Leading 3-2, Mathern appeared to have clinched the three points but Bailey took advantage of some indifferent defending to complete his hat-trick and snatch the spoils.

“We will keep believing but I hope everyone not working or injured can make it to training on Tuesday so we can work on protecting leads and points,” Thomas said.

“It’s depressing to say the same things after every match!”

On Saturday, Mathern welcome second-placed Tredegar Athletic hoping to put the last three defeats behind them. Kick-off 2pm.