East Gwent Senior League football

UNDERWOOD A are closing in on the main prize after thrashing a seriously under-strength Tintern Abbey 13-1 at the weekend, writes Bob Cypher.

They were due to play at Caldicot Castle last night before switching their attention to this Saturday’s visit to current champions Mathern FC A when they will hope to wrap up the title and promotion to the Gwent County League.

Way ahead of Mathern on goal difference (110 to 74), Underwood will still have matches in hand over their rivals

After watching his teammates suffer the heavy defeat, Tintern’s Darryl Reynolds praised the home side.

“Underwood are a very good team and we had no answer to them,” he said.

“We only had 11 players with no bench and my brother Geraint and our skipper Pip Seabury were unavailable so we were up against it from the start.

“Will Creswick scored out consolation but there isn’t a great deal more to say.”

Elsewhere in Division 1, Caldicot Town won 5-2 at Caldicot Castle while in Division 2, Chepstow Athletic warmed up for Saturday’s Centenary Cup semi-final against Sudbrook CC by thrashing Caldicot Castle B 12- 2 thanks to goals from Matt Cooper (4), Will Morgan (2), Luke Harris (2), Lucas Morris, Alyn Jones, Harry Shepard and Paul Salt.

After the match Athletic’s manager Jake Parkinson paid tribute to Castle’s under-strength team.

“Fair play to Castle, they only had nine men but they never gave up,” he said.

“Finishing fourth in the division was in line with our targets at the start of the season so, all in all, a good year.

“We are now focused on the two semi-finals we have coming up in the next two weeks to make it an even better season.”

Meanwhile cup rivals Sudbrook CC won 3-2 at home to Severn Tunnel.

The other semi-finalists Portskewett & Sudbrook and Underwood B were without a game.

The semis will be played on the 3G pitch as Caldicot Leisure Centre. The first, between Sudbrook and Athletic kicks off at 1pm with the second tie due to begin at 3pm.