Monmouthshire Windows East Gwent League Round-up

LEADERS Thornwell Red & White A have a great chance to put extra pressure on the chasing pack when they take on their own B team this weekend, writes Bob Cypher.

Victory for the A team – who beat visitors Undy Athletic 6-1 at the weekend – would see them four points clear of second-placed Caldicot Castle A who are in Amateur Cup action on Saturday.

Castle would also have two games in hand but the adage “better to have points on the board than games in hand” would mean those games would be “must-win” clashes.

But Castle A’s player-manager Joe O’Brien isn’t taking too much notice of the league standings.

Following his team’s 8-2 home win over Thornwell B, he said he “isn’t fussed” at this stage of the season.

“We are looking forward to the cup game against better opposition to see if we can mix it with the county teams which is where we feel the club belongs,” he said,

“I'm not too fussed on what gap Thornwell have on us. We have to play them at some point and until then we won’t know who is favourite for the league without disregarding the other teams around us.”

Castle’s win – against a “very physical” Thornwell team, according to O’Brien – was set up by a Craig McCluskey hat-trick and supported by Rick Woodland (2), Richard Regulski, Richard Lund and Richard Withey.

Thornwell B’s manager Keith Tipper saw it differently – including the scoreline.

“It finished 7-2 not 8-2,” he claimed later. “Some of the decisions were wrong as there was no official referee appointed and someone from Castle was in charge.

“Chris Huggett and Tom Bromily scored our goals.”

Rockfield Rovers gained a 5-0 home win because Mathern B were unable to raise a team.

Fourth-placed Chepstow Town A, 6-4 victors against Severn Tunnel, visit Mathern A who enjoyed a 6-2 victory at Chepstow Athletic.

Wayne Duffield (3), Kyle Gettings, Ashley Pearce and Andrew Harris were the Mathern marksmen while Athletic’s skipper Josh Methuen and Tom Hoggins were on target for them.

“We are disappointed with the result after playing good football at times, but our defending is costing us every week,” admitted Chepstow’s player-manager Jake Parkinson.

“We have to regroup and bounce back next week at home to Caldicot Town.”

Chepstow Town B were also forced to cancel their home match against Underwood who were awarded the points and a 5-0 score.

Castle B lost 4-1 at home to a “well-organised Caldicot Town”, according to Castle’s player-manager Mike Levett. Paul Harris scored for Castle B

Meanwhile, Tintern Abbey drew 3-3 with visitors Sudbrook CC for whom Rob Thorn, Dave Skinner and Joe Whitehouse scored.

With their striker Geraint Reynolds out through injury, Pip Seabury (2) and Richard Morgans bagged Abbey’s goals