Govilon - 5
Abertillery Excelsiors -3
GOVILON put last week's disappointing 3-6 defeat at the hands Treowen Stars behind them on Saturday as a reshuffled line-up held firm to knock out a vital victory.
In the wake of their loss to the Gwent County Division One leaders, Govilon moved front man Andy Hammett into goal for an impressive debut, and drafted in the experienced Carl Walbyoff. However the new line up took time to settle and in the meantime the Excelsiors' Martin Thomas grabbed an early lead for his side.
Things took another turn for the worst when Excelsiors doubled their score in the next minute before Govilon found their feet.
The home side finally found their form after 15 minutes when Jamie Wilkins got onto the end of a cross to power home a headed goal.
Govilon then found the equaliser moments later when a long goal kick from Hammett was controlled superbly by Richard McCarthy who slipped the ball to Dean Morgan, who in turn supplied the killer touch to beat Rob Arnold in Excelsiors goal.
This proved the springboard for Morgan to torment Excelsiors for the remainder of the match as he hit rampant form, beating Arnold again ten minutes before half time as Govilon eased into the interval with a narrow lead.
It was Morgan again ten minutes into the second half, riding tackle after tackle, as he bore down on Arnold's goal and delivered a slide rule shot which clipped the inside of the post and into goal.
Govilon suffered a setback on seventy minutes when defender Jamie Wilkins was sent off following a second caution, but Morgan notched another inside a minute when his side footed effort beat Arnold to give a three goal cushion.
Excelsiors boosted by their numerical superiority poured forwards, and when a high ball into the area was parried away by Hammett, it rebounded off an advancing striker and into the net to set up a tense final fifteen minutes.
For the remainder of the game, the Excelsiors did manage to graze the crossbar, but it was Govilon who aided by Walbyoff's cultured left foot and cool head held on for victory.
This Saturday Govilon continue their campaign with a trip to Undy Athletic.