Goytre - 2

Newport Civil Service - 2

AFTER leading the promotion pursuit at the head of Welsh League Division Three for a large part of the season, Goytre are struggling to find the fire and form which once elevated them to the numero uno position in the league.

Yet although they only managed to salvage a point in their 2-2 home draw with county rivals Newport Civil Service, through goals from Matthew Prosser and Carl Evans, Goytre are still in with a shot at the title.

Currently sitting sixth in the table on 40 points, the Plough Road team have played 21, won 12, drawn four and lost five, and still have six games in hand over kings of the hill Pontypridd Town.

Ponty are heading the charge on 49 points but are sitting on a somewhat fragile perch.

In second place on 48 points after playing 24 games are Corus Town, whilst in third place on 43 points after having played one more game than Goytre are UWIC.

Everything is still very much in the mix and all Goytre can now do is strive to win the next game which just happens to be against fifth placed Monmouth Town this Saturday at Plough Road.

Blaenavon Blues - 2

PILCS - 1

Blaenavon Blues welcomed Torfaen rivals Pontypool based PILCS FC to the Memorial ground on Saturday and in front of a big crowd beat them fair and square.

PILCS arrived with two former Blues players in their squad, their player manager Darren Pugh was player coach at the Blues for the first half of last season, while Darren Harris was a Blues regular for the past 12 years before deciding a change was required earlier in the season.

PILCS have been riding high in Gwent County Division One all season, and went in to Saturday's derby second in the league.

The Blues started the game the better of the two sides and played some good football in the opening 20 minutes making the visitors work hard to deny the hosts an early lead.

However, it was the league high flyers who took the lead when one of their counter attacks caught the Blues out and skipper Lee Wathen gave away a penalty. Up stepped Darren Harris and beat Blaenavon keeper Lee Jones with his spot kick.

PILCS came back into the game after getting their noses in front, but even with a lot of possession never really tested Jones in goal.

Five minutes before the interval the Blues equalised when Brad Jones who worked tirelessly for his side all afternoon headed home a Craig Tanner corner.

In the second half Blaenavon stepped up their game and were soon rewarded with a second goal when another Tanner corner caused problems in the box allowing another Blues youngster Adam Johnson to coolly fire the ball into the top corner of the net.

The Blues continued to play attractive football with their pass and movement and PILCS tried to get the ball forward at every opportunity, and when they did, they found the Blues defence in outstanding form.

The back three of Alex Bull, Matt Cox and skipper Wathen never gave their opponents a chance on goal. The Blues midfield of James Cox, Mike Waite and Grant 'Vinney' Evans were also outstanding both defensively and when getting forward to support the Blues strike partnership of Josh Bull and Jones.

This Saturday the Blues welcome local rivals Govilon to the Memorial ground and they will be looking to secure all three points after suffering an humiliating 6-0 loss to the visitors on the opening day of the season.

Albion Rovers - 3

Govilon - 2

GOVILON followed up their midweek 4-1 win over Lliswerry, with a fixture against another Newport based side in Albion Rovers but this time lost by the odd goal in five, to end their three match winning sequence.

The first half was largely uneventful apart from Albion taking the lead after 15 minutes. Govilon had two chances to draw level when Craig Norman went close with a headed effort and then when a strike clipped the inside of the post and travelled along the goal line before it was smothered by Albion's keeper.

Govilon drew level ten minutes into the second half when Richard McCarthy slammed home a free kick from just outside the box.

Albion regained the lead when Savigar volleyed past Sam Morris, but Govilon drew level in the next minute and again it was from a free kick. McCarthy was the provider when he tapped the ball to Jamie Laurent who powered the ball into the bottom right corner of Fletcher's net.

With ten minutes remaining Albion grabbed their winner when a lose high ball in the box was headed home.

Elsewhere in Gwent County Division Two Mardy suffered further defeat at the hands of Trethomas Bluebirds who beat them 3-1. As we enter the business end of things, Mardy are yet again to be found floundering in the relegation zone and if their fortunes fail to improve dramatically they will face the drop for the second consecutive year.

Meanwhile in Gwent County Division Three the Abergavenny Thursdays are also stranded in the relegation zone and their 3-2 away defeat to Whiteheads on the weekend wouldn't have improved their mood or their standing.