Bees sting Mardy before cup exit against Exiles

MARDY suffered defeat twice last week, in their first league game back in Gwent Central 1 against Forgeside and in the FAW Trophy against Aberystwyth Exiles. .

But both games were close and better can be hoped for once the team settles down.

Mardy started against the Bees in midweek looking strangely lethargic and the Govilon-based visitors had the better of the early exchanges.

But it was the hosts who came closest to scoring after ten minutes when Ellis Morgan worked his way into a shooting position and forced former Mardy keeper Darren Rudd into a full length save before blocking Benji Clark's follow up shot.

However, Forgeside took the lead four minutes later when Calum Burns blasted a left foot shot on the turn past Matthew Davis.

The game was end to end, but Mardy were dealt a double blow with the interval approaching, when firstly Clark was shown a straight red card for an injudicious remark to the referee before the visitors' Jake Saunders put Burns through to score his second with a good finish.

Rudd then foiled Mardy again with an excellent full length save from a Dan Palmer free-kick.

Whatever was said by home manager Steve Watkins in the interval seemed to have an effect, with Mardy looking much livelier and beginning to take the game to the visitors, resulting in the deficit being cut just past the hour mark when Eoin Duggan headed home a well taken Stephen Woodhouse free-kick.

But Forgeside defended resolutely and frustrated Mardy, with Rudd producing another full -length save from Rhys Gully, and Luke Morgan lashing a shot just over the visitors' bar before the final whistle signalled a 2-1 defeat for the home side.

Saturday then saw Mardy in FAW Trophy action against Cardiff-based Aberystwyth Exiles.

The visitors looked an accomplished football side from the start and played the ball around well with home keeper Morgan Pond making several good saves.

But with Mardy slowly coming to terms with the opposition, they then went behind to something of a freak goal on 16 minutes when Ryan Phillips attempted to cross from near the corner flag only for the ball to travel parallel with the goal line before looping in at the far post to give Exiles the lead.

Mardy looked to have equalised after half an hour when a Dan Palmer header evaded the keeper only for it to rebound to safety off the cross bar.

The visitors hit back almost immediately when Dami-Arewa was put through to finish well and put Mardy two goals behind at the interval for the second game running.

In a mirror image of the previous game, Mardy came out looking much livelier after the break and cut the deficit after an hour thanks to a lovely curling finish just inside the box from Max Williams.

Three minutes later they looked to have equalised when Palmer capitalised on a mistake from the visiting keeper to net, only for the goal to be controversially disallowed for a foul.

But the match was finally settled with five minutes to go when Exiles substitute Simon Fisher turned on the ball 30 yards out, and unexpectedly lashed a shot high into the net to give the visitors a 3-1 win.

Elsewhere, Llanarth - formerly Glascoed FC – launched their new identity and their GC1 campaign in style with a 5-0 midweek win at Race, who saw two men sent off with more than 35 minutes to play.

Dawson Stubbs opened the scoring on 26 minutes for a 1-0 half-time lead before Kyle Baldwin doubled the advantage three minutes into the second period.

The red mist then descended on Race, who had two players given their marching orders in a minute.

And Jack Bannister (81, 90) and Baldwin again (90+3) took advantage late on with three more goals.

Meanwhile, Mardy 2nds put on a creditable performance losing 3-1 away to GC2 favourites Pontypool Town, with the goal coming from George Martin.

But reformed Raglan Juniors celebrated a 3-2 East Gwent 2 away win over Caldicot Castle 2nds in their first league game back, Cameron Rennie, Simon Clarkson and Kieran Knight with the first half goals.

Mardy 1sts were playing at home on Tuesday (September 8) evening, after the Chronicle went to print, against Clydach Wasps 2nds before travelling to play a return game against Forgeside on Saturday.

Mardy 2nds also travel on Saturday to play Penygarn and Trevethin Development.