LEADERS Caldicot Town and second-placed Monmouth Town suffered major blows to their hopes of landing the Division Two title by slipping to home defeats against their nearest rivals.

There were Division One draws for struggling pair Undy Athletic and Goytre while Panteg edged a seven-goal thriller to remain the highest-positioned local club in the lower tier.

Caldicot and Monmouth began locked on 50 points when entertaining Swansea University and STM Sports (Cardiff) respectively.

However Caldicot lost 1-0 and Monmouth 2-0 and they are now just a couple of points ahead of the visitors, who are placed third and fourth.

But the students have three matches in hand and the capital outfit five and it is clear these two sides are now joint favourites to lift the divisional silverware.

Two former leaders, Abergavenny Town and Croesyceiliog, both returned to winning ways to remain in their pre-games places of fifth and seventh.

Abergavenny emerged 2-1 victors from a trip to take on Garden Village with both goals (including a penalty) coming from Dan Hartland while Croesyceiliog striker Alex Bonthron netted both in a 2-0 success over Swansea-based visitors West End to end a run of five straight defeats.

Aberbargoed Buds elevated themselves up one to 10th thanks to a 1-0 home triumph over AFC Llwydcoed - Tomas Gameson with the game’s only goal.

Risca United were first in action in entertaining Caerau (Ely) at the Centre for Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach on Friday night.

The Cuckoos had won two of their previous three league games while the capital visitors were seeking a fifth straight success.

Lewis Davies put Risca ahead with his ninth league goal of the campaign during the first period before a brilliant free kick from Tom Berry close to time wrapped up a 2-0 triumph.

It was only the second clean-sheet in 27 outings and they moved up three places to 10, although they slipped down one following the results of Saturday’s fixtures.

In the top flight, it was as you were with all three sides staying in the same starting spots - although none managed a win.

Cwmbran Celtic (8th) hosted second-place Cambrian & Clydach and paid the price for missing several decent goal chances.

Their consolation was scored by Chris Ham, who successful free-kick took his league goal tally to 10 while undefeated-in-15 C&C netted via Sam Jones (2, including a penalty) and Liam Reed.

Undy travelled to take on basement side Ton Pentre and were soon trailing 2-0 to goals from Alex Davies and Leon Jacka (penalty).

They struck back, though, to level via Olly Smith (penalty) and Alex Jarman before Ton went in front again through an effort by Leroy Thomas,

But Undy stuck to their task to force a very later equaliser from Chris Parry to earn a deserved point from a 3-3 draw.

Goytre were also on the road in Port Talbot against Afan Lido, who went in front with a strike from Noah Daley.

However Kris Leek popped up with a leveller soon after the start of the second period and the score remained at 1-1.

In Division Three, Panteg, Tredegar Town, Newport City, Treowen Stars and Chepstow Town recorded varying degrees of results - but all are still on their pre-fixture positions.

Panteg (6th) visited the capital to face second-from-the-bottom Ely Rangers and saw Brad Baker, Luke Dyke, Mike Passmore and Ben Taylor score in a 4-3 success.

Tredegar (7th) had Craig Hewitt and Nathan Pettit, on target as they twice fought back to draw 2-2 with table-topping Trefelin, who goals came from a couple of penalties by former Swansea City and Leeds United striker Lee Trundle.

Treowen (12th) and visiting City (11th) played out a goalless draw at Bush Park., where the hosts maintained a third straight clean-sheet.

However there were damaging defeats for both Chepstow Town and Albion Rovers, who are staring relegation out of the league squarely in the face.

Chepstow stay 13th of 16 following a 1-0 home reverse at the hands of mid-table Ynysygerwn - their fifth successive reverse,

Albion passed over a very good chance to post only their second win in 17 starts when visiting the only side below them in the entire 48-club league - Maesteg-based Caerau.

But the Malpas outfit had only a ninth league goal of the campaign for Mark Millinship to show for in a 2-1 loss - with the clubs switching positions to leave Albion rock bottom.

Next fixtures involving Gwent clubs. Friday (7.30pm, unless stated). Division Two: Croesyceiliog v Abergavenny Town. Division Three: Caerau (Maesteg) v Albion Rovers (7.00pm); Newport City v AFC Porth.

Leading scorers for players appearing for Gwent clubs (8+): 21: Leo Ross (Monmouth).19: Zac Osbourne (Croesyceiliog, no longer with club); 15: Sean Feeley (Abergavenny). 13: Ian Pettit (Tredegar). 12: Ben Smith (Caldicot). 10: Elliott Ford (Monmouth); Mark Powell (Treowen); Jason Thorn (Caldicot). 9: Josh Bull (Cwmbran Celtic); Josh Brown (Monmouth, including 3 for Goytre); Luke Dyke (Panteg); Chris Ham (Cwmbran Celtic); Curtis Methven (Abergavenny); Mark Millinship (Albion). 8: Lewis Davies (Risca); Hitchcock (Risca); Harry Shelly (Caldicot).

Clean Sheets: 9: Abergavenny. 7: Treowen. 6: Monmouth; .5: Aberbargoed; Caldicot. 3: Croesyceiliog; Cwmbran Celtic; Newport; Tredegar. 2: Chepstow; Goytre; Panteg; Undy; Risca.

ENDS