Caerau (Ely) FC - 4

Abergavenny Town FC -1

ABERGAVENNY Town’s promotion hopes were dashed in controversial fashion in this ‘winner takes all’ encounter at Caerau Ely’s Cwrt-yr-Ala ground on the outskirts of Cardiff.

Fourth placed Town travelled to the game holding a one point and a one place advantage over their hosts, and knew that victory would see them push Caerau (Ely) out of the equation and leapfrog third placed Caldicot Town to claim the last available promotion spot.

Town showed signs of early nerves, as Caerau (Ely) quickly got into their stride forcing Town’s ‘keeper Tom Indge into a smart save at the base of the post after only seven minutes. One minute later, in a swift attack, the home side had the goal at their mercy but fluffed their lines.

Town soon took advantage of this profligacy, in the shape of fit-again marksman, Curtis Methven, who coolly kept his nerve in netting the opening goal of the game to give Town the lead and real hope.

Twenty minutes in and the game became clouded in controversy. The fact that a Town player handled the ball in the penalty area was never in doubt, but the referee stunned Town’s players when he sent off Jac Evans who Town protested was nowhere near the incident.

After much protest and a refusal by the official to change his mind, Danny Hooper stepped up to equalise. This unsettled the Town and gave Caerau (Ely) the incentive they needed. They grabbed the bull by the horns and took the lead five minutes later when Hooper scored again, but this time with a stunning strike from distance.

By now Caerau (Ely) were proving a real handful and just after the half-hour they went further ahead when Jerome Maynard leapt highest to a corner ball to head home. When Caerau (Ely) hit their fourth goal on the stroke of half-time, Town knew they had a mountain to climb.

The second half was a quiet affair by comparison, with Town being able to steady the ship and having a few chances to cut the deficit, but Caerau Ely’s buffer was too great and the longer the half went on, without Town scoring, the greater the chance was that the hosts would have the final say, and so it proved when the referee blew the final whistle as Caerau (Ely) regained top flight status at the first time of asking.

Club chairman Rob Francis told the Chronicle, “Whilst the result on Saturday was disappointing, with us just missing out on promotion, the fact we have finished in fifth position in the league, especially after the slow start we made to the campaign when we only took one point from our opening four games, and looked more like relegation candidates than promotion contenders, is highly creditable and a massive improvement over recent years. I would like to thank Ben Bannon and Phil Hemmings for guiding the team so skillfully this season and just want to say how incredibly proud I am of everyone at Abergavenny Town FC, both on and off the pitch who have worked so very hard this season to get us this far.

“My grateful thanks too, to all our sponsors especially those individuals and businesses who are based in the town, and who are starting to return to the Club, and of course our loyal supporters who give us such terrific support both home and away.”