Abertillery Excelsiors - 0
Blaenavon Blues - 2
STARTING with an unfamiliar 4-5-1 formation the Blues were in the ascendancy from the start in their two goal whitewash of Abertillery Excelsiors.
With inspirational captain Darren Pugh, returning from injury, commanding the back four, the introduction of James Parfitt and Grant 'Vinny' Evans, on the flanks, and with front running unsung workhorse Darren 'Pierro' Harris too hot to handle, it took the Blues 17 minutes to break the Ex's defence.
From a Mikey Waite pinpoint corner, central defender Matt Cox's header, smashed into the back of the Ex's net, leaving keeper Arnold rooted to the spot.
The Blues were now in the mood to play football and the Ex's were finding it difficult to contain their fast flowing, free running, passing game, with Mike Waite, Liam Powell and Steve White controlling the game, against a gale force wind and driving rain.
The back four in the shape of Pugh, Johnny Arthur, Josef Ward and Cox, were dealing with all that came their way, leaving keeper Ben 'Boom' Smith with very little to deal with.
On forty five minutes, a free kick awarded to the Blues on the edge of the 18 yard line, floated in by Powell was again met by Cox, who showed his overall ability, by being first to the ball, and placing the ball past the right side of the keeper to make it 2-0 to the Blues at the interval.
The Blues continued the second period again as they have done most weeks, on the attack, keeping their opponents on the back foot.
Ten minutes into the second half, with Darren Harris having run himself into the ground, the Blues opted for a 4-4-2 formation, bringing on Ritchie Wakeling to play alongside Harris, in the belief they could kill off the game, and that the Ex's were causing very little threat.
With the wind behind them, the Blues' keeper launched the ball the full length of the field, which had Ex's keeper Arnold backtracking, only for the ball to bounce inches over the bar. With twenty minutes to go, a fast taken free kick, from the edge of the area, eluded the Blues defence, but not Smith in goal whose full length fingertip save, made certain of a clean sheet on the day.
Wakeling showed exceptional turns of pace and vision, narrowly missing with four attempts on goal, two of which were very well saved by the Ex's keeper.
The Blues are now beginning to pick up the pace, and are already looking forward to their next Gwent County League home encounter against Abercarn United.
Elsewhere in Gwent County Division One, Mardy just missed out 2-3 to Spencer Youth and Boys in a comedy of errors and Govilon got back on track with a 1-3 dismissal of Coed Eva Athletic.
This Saturday Govilon and Mardy face each other in a Halloween clash that promises to be grisly.