THE visit of Chepstow Town to the Co-op field for Saturday's cup-tie was a golden chance for the Blaenavon Blues to get the season back on track before a return to the league

programme. 

However, despite taking the early advantage and going 2-0 up, Blaenavon let the game slip from their grasp.

The Blues started the match with a high tempo and great level of competitiveness, and played some good football considering that Chepstow Town's game plan appeared to be 'intimidate the opposition'. 

The hard-working Blues' players refused to let this tactic get the better of them, and they responded in kind with some hard tackling and intimidating of their own.

The breakthrough came early in the first half with a free kick gained on the edge of the Chepstow box. 

An alert Steve White struck a superb free kick into the top left hand corner, leaving the keeper to helplessly watch as it sailed in. 

This lifted the side and the Blues continued to attack through wide midfielders Grant 'Vinny' Evans and James Parfitt, and attackers Neil Cox and James Cox.

The constant pressure eventually saw the Blues awarded a penalty which White converted for his second of the game. 

This excellent early performance and effort should have seen the Blues through, but Chepstow forced them to defend deep, and the Blues found it difficult to get out of their own half with, at times, ten players behind the ball.

The constant pressure from Chepstow paid off with a well-taken header. 

The Blues tried to regain the upper hand and started to play some quality football again but matters were hindered as the referee awarded a handful of decisions against the Blues.

Chepstow found the equaliser and then rapidly took the lead through a good half volley by the Chepstow midfielder. 

The game then took a turn for the worse as far as the Blues were concerned, as the referee sent Blaenavon keeper Chris Jones off even though players objected that he clearly took the ball with a good save. 

The resultant penalty was scored by Chepstow and put the game beyond the Blues.

Stand-in-keeper Steve White, was then himself sent off for a second bookable offence after bringing down the rushing Chepstow attacker.  

This left Blaenavon's third keeper of the match -James Parfitt, the job of trying to prevent the penalty, which Chepstow subsequently scored to end the match with a score line that in no way reflected the game itself.

A vastly improved performance, and an abundance of team-spirit personified by every player on the pitch, will give manager Chris Mason heart, and these standards will hopefully be carried on into next week as the Blues look to get their season back on track with a visit to Cefn Fforest. (2pm kick-off).