RTB Ebbw Vale - 1
Mardy - 2
ALTHOUGH they were seemingly staring down the barrel of odds-on relegation earlier this season, the Mardy have pulled a few results out of the fire in recent matches, and as a result they may just escape the drop by the skin of their teeth if Saturday's result is anything to go by.
Club stalwart Macky Skinner told the Chronicle, "Beating RTB was a cracking result for us. It was a basement battle that we definitely needed to win. RTB were sitting rock bottom on only six points before that match, so to lose to them would have been a bitter blow to our confidence and chances of survival.
"Thankfully Lewis Welch and Arron Davies did the business for us on Saturday by netting the goals and giving us the valuable points needed to continue our campaign."
Previous to the weekend's encounter, the Mardy hosted a high-flying second-placed Clydach Wasps at home in midweek, and heartbreakingly saw their 1-0 goal advantage scored by Matthew Wham, shattered late in the second-half as the Wasps stung twice to make it 2-0 at the end of play.
"I think it was our inexperience that cost us the Clydach game," revealed Skinner. "We're a youthful side and sometimes in those situations when you're 1-0 up and coasting towards full-time, an older side like Clydach can just pounce and punish you dearly.
"However, the result against RTB puts us right back in contention, and now the real do or die decider is against second from bottom Cefn Forest this Saturday."
With Mardy currently sitting third from bottom in Gwent County Division Three on 19 points, and Cefn Forest on 17, the two teams will lock horns this Saturday with so much at stake for both sets of players. Especially in light of the fact that Cefn Forest have a game in hand over the Mardy.
With RTB Ebbw Vale now unable to redeem themselves from the reality of relegation, it looks likely that either the Mardy or Cefn Forest will join them in the descent into Division Two.
However, with Blaenavon Blues and Spencer Youth and Boys both just sitting precariously above Mardy on 23 points, nothing is a given and things always have a habit of going pear-shaped.
Skinner added, "Earlier this year, I like a lot of other people predicted that we'd definitely be going down this season, but the youngsters we have in the team are proving me wrong by showing a lot of guts and pride in the Mardy colours.
"We've got a great mix at the club at present. We have the enthusiasm and athleticism of the youngsters alongside the experience and knowledge of older heads such as Gary Barrel and Tom Overton.
"When you add to the mix the sterling work that coaches Keith Ewers and Matthew McCarthy have brought to the table and the discipline they have installed, then you have the makings of a potentially great outfit.
"We've learned a lot this season and it'll be a shame if we're not able to stick around in Division One to put those lessons into practice.
"No-one really expects the Mardy to stay up, but we've been in this position before. We believe in ourselves and that's the important thing.
"It's now just a case of the players taking to the park in our remaining games and proving everyone wrong by performing right."