East Gwent League

Division 1

Caldicot Castle A 2 Thornwell Red & White A 0

CALDICOT Castle took over the lead in Division 1 thanks to victory over Thornwell and Rockfield Rovers’ surprise 2-0 defeat at home to Iscoed Tafern, writes Bob Cypher.

Both Castle and Thornwell were missing key players, notably Richard Lund and Joe Shaw-Jones for the home side and skipper Rory Garey and Matt Divers for the visitors.

Although they were missed this was still a good match watched by an appreciative crowd on the terrace.

Having raced each other for the trophies last season, both clubs were a little off the pace as Rovers and Severn Tunnel enjoyed a winning start to the season.

Saturday’s game had the feel of being a “must-win” match for both teams and early exchanges were fairly even with chances created but none finished.

But Castle took the lead through an unfortunate own goal scored by Andrew Skuse.

Castle keeper Dave Hayward launched a trademark kick which Skuse tried to head back to his keeper Dan Northey who could only watch as the ball bounced away from him and into the net.

Despite the setback, Thornwell looked capable of equalising, but as the game progressed, it seemed both defences were dominant.

Play swung from end to end with neither team able to dominate for long periods.

Chances and half chances fell to Wayne Duffield and Dean Corbett for Thornwell and Joe O’Brien and Steve Edwards for Castle but it was only in the closing 20 minutes of the second half that Castle added to their lead.

Home skipper Craig McCluskey departed the action to be replaced by Rick Woodland whose height and heading ability were soon evident.

And it was he who struck the second goal, winning a header which dropped invitingly for him to find the far corner of Thornwell’s net.

Northey, who had been limping after being injured earlier, was unable to make any effort to stop the shot.

O’Brien had the ball in the net but was ruled offside and then, after waltzing around Northey, his goal-bound shot was cleared by defender Luke Johnson.

“I just couldn’t find the net today,” O’Brien said later.

“I thought we started well and missed a few decent chances.

“I felt we rode our luck through periods of the game but once Rick Woodland came on we seemed to take control and I didn't feel Thornwell offered enough to score against us.

“We are happy with the three points and clean sheet.

“It's always better to be at the top and have teams chase you rather than having to chase them.”

At Rockfield, Iscoed Tafern’s scorers were Josh Downing and Callum Ford in a match the visitors’ manager Ashley Edinborough described as very even.

“There was some good football played by both teams and it was refereed superbly with the ref firmly in control right from the off,” he said.

“The only difference was us being more clinical up front with both strikers scoring.”

In the other match played in the division, Caldicot Town won 4-2 at Undy Athletic.