Goytre - 3

AFC Llwydcoed - 0

AFTER endless seasons of wallowing in the mire of Welsh League Division Three, it looks like Goytre could finally be on their uppers.

The Plough Road outfit have hit a purple patch of late and their storming victory over AFC Llwydcoed on Saturday saw them post a ninth successive victory to go second in the table.

And with three promotion places up for grabs this season, Goytre have it all to play for.

Straight from the kick-off an unstoppable Goytre sprung into life and some fine football down the right side through Carl Evans and Convey Jenkins was only kept at bay by some last ditch defensive work from Llwydcoed.

Despite being awarded some early free kicks, Simon Truman's efforts were kept at bay by Martyn Phillips's agility in the Llwydcoed goal.

A short spell of pressure from the visitors was easily absorbed by Goytre who turned the tables and opened the Llwydcoed midfield up like a knife through hot butter.

As Luke Prosser run rampant into the visitor's box he was cynically brought down and made no mistake in putting the resulting penalty to bed and opening Goytre's account on the scoreboard.

Goytre's Dean Taylor and Matthew Prosser defended magnificently to ensure the Goytre went into the interval with a one goal advantage.

Try as they might in the second-half, the visitors could not open up the firm and resolute Plough Road defence. And as they were frantically scrabbling around, looking for their equaliser, a cool, calm, and collected Goytre dealt them a beautifully savage blow.

From a Goytre attack, Luke Prosser used his experience to come back off an offside position to an on side position and power home a cruel but well executed goal.

With their spirit broken and defeat on the horizon, Goytre substitute Graham Mason's deflected goal was the last straw for Llwydcoed who had no real answer to Goytre's movement and creativity.

As for Goytre, it's onwards and upwards, one game and one goal at a time.

Blaenavon Blues - 2  Abertillery Excelsiors - 3

BLAENAVON Blues were left disappointed and frustrated not to have even come away with a point from their game against Abertillery Excelsiors.

Managers Ryan Huish and Lee Wathen made five changes to the side that lost heavily the

previous week at PILCS.  

Matthew Cox came in at centre back, Marc Browning and new signing Lee Challenger formed a new centre midfield partnership and Matt Cox and Brad Jones combined forces as Blaenavon's new striking duo.

With both sides desperately looking for a win, Excelsiors took the lead on the 17 minute mark.

The Blues bounced right back at the visitors and a Challenger free kick was headed over by Brad Jones. Blaenavon were not to be denied however, and in their next attack Matt Cox equalised with a fine finish in front of goal.

Almost immediately Excelsiors regained the lead when their centre back headed in at the far

post. With half time approaching disaster struck as Abertillery scored again to go into the interval with with a 3-1 lead.

Blaenavon started the second period with much more urgency. Cox had an effort ruled out for

off side and young substitute Illtyd Caddick saw a good shot fly inches high of the target.

On the hour mark Challenger bought the score back to 3-2 with a beautifully struck free kick.

Blues put in a lot of effort in the last quarter but the Excelsiors defence held firm and denied Blaenavon the result they craved.

Overall it was a disappointing result for the Blues but a big plus for them is the resigning of Lee Challenger. His experience of Welsh league football with Cwmbran Celtic will hopefully rub off on the younger Blues players.

Next week the Blues travel to do battle with Newport's Albion Rovers.

Elsewhere in Gwent County Division One, Govilon fell 3-1 to the sword of Fleur-De-Lys Welfare and Clydach Wasps smashed PILCS 3-1.

Meanwhile in Division Two it was another loss for poor old Mardy who lost 1-2 to Tranch and stay firmly in the relegation zone for another season.

In Division three, the Abergavenny Thursdays had a scorcher against Trinant which ended honours even at 3-3.