Monmouthshire Windows East Gwent League

Division One

A SURPRISING number of matches survived the stormy weather with two of the top three winning on the road, writes Bob Cypher.

Caldicot Castle A visited bottom club Tintern Abbey with a depleted squad and came away with a 7-1 victory.

“We turned up with only two subs, one with an injury and one with a hangover,” Castle’s player-manager said later.

“We started without a striker and loaded the side with midfield players, but we started well with goals from Rick Woodland, Jake Withey, who scored two identical goals from Sean Johnson's corners, and a Steve Edwards goal, and we led 4-1 at the break.

“It was a bit scrappy in the second half and Tintern had a player sent off for repeated fouls, which on other days may have seen straight reds.

“A Steve Edwards free-kick had Tintern in all sorts of trouble and a defender put the ball in his own net, attempting a clearance.

“Steve is claiming the goal and I'm sure the defender won't argue with that.

“Rick got his second and I came off the bench for a goal too, but the goal of the game belonged to Tintern.

“A 40-yard half volley left Dave Hayward in no-man's-land with the ball going straight into the goal.

“I was happy with a very impressive display from the boys.

“Sean Marsh impressed on the left and Jake Withey did the same down the right, while Matt Kinchin had a great game in midfield and Sean Johnson's passing was splitting the Tintern defence all game.

“The boys should be proud of their performance and the plus-six improvement to our goal difference.”

Castle’s win sees them with 25 points from 10 matches with a +37 goal difference.