Monmouthshire Windows East Gwent League round-up

TWO matches that could have had a part to play in the title race ended in farce without a ball being kicked.

Caldicot Castle A were due to play visiting Chepstow Town on the club’s main pitch while Castle B were scheduled to play leaders Thornwell Red & White A on the other one.

The two home managers, Joe O’Brien and Mike Levett had earlier walked around both pitches and considered them to be playable.

When the referees arrived and with the players preparing to warm-up, at first both games were called off, then one was reinstated, then the second was reinstated.

But by then a number of players had already left the ground and managers tried in vain to recall their missing players, the situation descending into chaos.

As one disgruntled visiting club official said: “That’s local amateur football for you”, while another was less complimentary in more colourful language!

Of the games that did take place, Undy Athletic were held 3-3 at home to Tintern Abbey and Portskewett & Sudbrook took all the points in a 7-5 win over Mathern A.

Underwood Athletic also hit a magnificent seven in the defeat of visitors Sudbrook CC who scored three.

Thornwell R&W B lost 6-0 at home to Caldicot Town and Chepstow Athletic lost 5-2 at home to Rockfield Rovers.

Pip Seabury was again on the scoresheet for Tintern with Steve Morgan and Will Creswick rescuing a point after the visitors had been 2-0 adrift earlier.

At Portskewett, Mathern started off with 10 men but they took an early lead and then doubled it before Adam Maggs scored from the touchline.

“He reckons it was a shot but it looked like a cross to me,” joked Chris Commins.

Although Mathern had their moments, scoring three and missing a penalty, the home side were not to be denied and took the points thanks to goals by Wayne Morley (3), Adam Maggs, Jake White, Steve Lovell and Chris Commins.

Chepstow Athletic boss Jake Parkinson said his team were missing a number of regulars against Rockfield.

“I was gutted, but we gave ourselves too much to do after a terrible first half in which we were total bystanders,” he said,

”We showed a little bit of fight in the second half but we were missing a number of key players and ended the game with two keepers playing outfield, but one of them, Chris Smith, scored a beauty. Our other goal was an own goal.”

Finally, Thornwell B boss Keith Tipper had no complaints about his team’s defeat, although a warm-up injury to Gareth Jones meant he was forced to make a reshuffle.

“It was a pretty even first half but after a very good free kick to make it 2-0 we had a lot to do,” he said.

“In the second half Caldicot played well and I’d say it was a fair result.”