Gwent County League

Division 2

MATHERN FC manager Dean Thomas welcomed back a former favourite for the match at Division 2 promotion prospects Cromwell and was delighted as his team came away with a point.

Thomas called up two 16-year-olds, Jacob Tyson and Morgan Pratt – and drafted in former skipper Sam Marmont and his brother Tommy and all four produced good performances.

In fact, Mathern led 3-1 at one point and there was disappointment among the players that they hadn’t secured a victory.

After Cromwell took the lead against the run of play, Mathern equalised through Connor Hayden’s 20-yard free kick and took the lead just before the break when Ieuan Diyaolu capitalised on a defensive error to round the keeper and score into an empty net.

Mathern attacked straight from the kick off and Alex Jarman made it 3-1, beating three defenders before smashing the ball home.

“It was one of our goals of the season,” Thomas said.

“Defensive errors let us down, conceding twice in 10 minutes both teams had chances to win it in the dying minutes,” Thomas added.

“The lads are disappointed we didn’t win, but a point at Cromwell is not bad.

“There were good performances from Jacob and Morgan and it was great to have Sam and Tom back in the squad. They both had good games.”

There wasn’t such good news for the other local sides in the league, however.

Blackrock Rovers went down 3-1 at home to Coed Eva Athletic with home manager Paul Lovell admitting late withdrawals and slack defending cost them dear.

“We had two late withdrawals which meant we were under strength yet again – the story of our season unfortunately,” he said.

“It was a pretty even first half with Coed Eva creating two good chances which they should have taken before we settled and carved out a few chances of our own.

“But slack defending and hesitancy in the second half meant Coed Eva were gifted a goal early on in the second half.

“We need to cut out these unforced individual errors if are going to compete in this league.

“Coed Eva scored a second after one of our defenders lost concentration and allowed their striker a clear shot on goal.

“Luke James gave us hope, scoring after a superb free kick by Ben Smith, but almost immediately, another error allowed Coed Eva a third.”