Gwent County League

Division Two

MATHERN manager Lee Baker was philosophical after seeing his team lose 3-1 at Ynysddu Welfare, writes Bob Cypher.

“The game was a draw but we ended up losing,” he said later.

“We were well in the game until the last 20 minutes. We knew they would play from the back and so we set up a shape to counteract them.

“Everyone did exactly what was asked of them and for the large part of the game we frustrated them.

“It was 1-1 at half time thanks to a ref who was giving penalties for everything in the box.

“Elliot Greening scored our goal from a penalty and the score was probably a fair reflection of the game to that point.

“After the break they changed the way they played, attacking a little more direct which again we dealt with very well.

“The game started going our way and we were creating chances when we conceded a long-range goal which was a real blow.

“Another goal, pretty much straight afterwards, finished us."

Baker said he and his co-manager Jason Johnston were happy with the way the team played and thanked the players for their hard work.

“We have to keep going. We are creating chances, battling hard and playing some good football so we have no worries going forward.”

Sudbrook’s match at home to Cwm was cancelled when the visitors were unable to raise a team.