West End FC - 2

Abergavenny Town - 1

It was a wretched afternoon for Abergavenny Town when they went up West, as injuries and bookings conspired to make it a match to forget.

Town suffered an early blow when captain Jamie Summers limped off after ten minutes with an ankle injury.

They suffered again two minutes later when West End’s Elliott Cowan gave his side the lead with a well struck shot from the edge of the box.

The hosts almost doubled their lead on the half hour but were denied by a fine save from Tom Indge, and two minutes later they spurned another chance when Town lost the ball in midfield but all they could produce was a weak shot.

Town’s new signing Lewis Hitchcock, on for the injured Summers, struck the post as half time approached.

During the interval Town’s injury jinx struck again with defender Ben Jones unable to take the field for the second half.

Town had the ball in the net early on, but this effort was ruled out for offside, and mid-way through, Town’s injury list grew longer when left back Jac Evans left the field with a pulled hamstring.

Jordan Harford hit the bar to give Town some hope, but more Town woe followed nine minutes from the end when Craig Norman was dismissed following a second yellow card, and West End took full advantage of their numerical supremacy scoring from close range.

Town still pressed on and with three minutes left West End’s Luke Fleming saved well from a Luke Lewis drive, and in the next minute Lewis did find the net, latching onto a cross from Hitchcock, but this was little consolation in what turned out to be a dismal day for the Town.

Meanwhile back at Pen-y-Pound, Town saw their reserve fixture against Ely Rangers postponed, with the visitors breaking down en-route. Town now have a three week break before returning to league action on Saturday January 2017 (2.00pm) , at home to second placed AFC who are poised to hit top spot should they win their games in hand over leaders, Llanelli Town.

Town v West End FC

1 Tom Indge, 2 Ben Jones (Ben Bannon 45), 3 Jac Evans (Jake Heckles 70), 4 Dafydd Brewer, 5 Jamie Summers (Hitchcock 10), 6 Lewis Jones, 7 Aaron Norman, 8 Jamie Laurent, 9 Luke Lewis, 10 Craig Norman, 11 Jordan Harford, Subs 12. Lewis Hitchcock 14 Ben Bannon, 15 Jake Heckles.