Abergavenny Town suffered disappointment on Friday when the Ardal South East League leaders lost to lowly Tredegar FC 2-1 at home in front of a large expectant crowd, reports RAY WARREN.

Tredegar are fighting for their Welsh league lives at the bottom and battled bravely throughout.

Town started brightly but despite creating chances failed to capitalise, Luke Williams having the best opportunity early on, but firing wildly wide when well placed to score.

Tredegar began to grow into the game and scored a fine goal following a poor cross field ball by Nathan Davies.

Town toiled for an equaliser and finally got it from the penalty spot, the league’s second highest scorer Dan MacDonald slotting home after hand ball by a visiting defender.

The hosts should have taken the lead when Robbie Atkinson showed excellent pace, only to see his first effort saved on the line by a defender after rounding the keeper and a second effort roll tamely wide.

The second half saw Aber create chance after chance, but they all went begging.

Tredegar to their credit showed great determination with some heroic goal line stops and a keeper who was determined not to be beaten.

They also maintained a threat on the break and it was one of those breaks that won the game when Arran Elias scored four minutes from the end to make it 2-1.

Although Aber dominated possession on the night, the determination showed by Tredegar to keep them out meant they were deserved winners.

Despite the defeat, Aber are still top by two points from Abertillery Bluebirds, who won 4-1 at home against Llandrindod Wells.

And they will try to get their promotion and title push back on track when they visit Treowen on Saturday (March 26) with a 2.30pm kick off.

There was cause to celebrate last weekend though, as Town 2nds secured a 3-0 win at Abertillery Bluebirds to leapfrog Tredegar 2nds and go seventh in the FAW Cymru South East Reserves League, with a trip to Pontypridd Town up next this Saturday.

Football Round-up

A Jordan Jones brace gave Clydach Wasps a hard-fought first Gwent Premier League Cup Group B win 2-1 at Machen. Victory came on a weekend when the last games in Division One were completed, with Wasps finishing sixth, tied on 31 points with Pentwynmawr, who were fifth thanks to a better goal difference, with New Inn outright champions from Coed Eva by 13 points.

Crickhowell will finish ninth in Division 2, but sprang a shock beating division runners-up Cromwell 2-1 thanks to goals from Joe Kuczynski and B Daniels to go top of Cup Group A with two wins out of three. Usk Town finish fourth in Division 2, while bottom side Gilwern & District will want to draw a line under a league season that only brought two draws and no wins.

Blaenavon Blues 1st XI lost top spot on goal difference in the Gwent Premier League Premier Division after their match at Albion Rovers was postponed thanks to the pitch not being marked, and title rivals RTB Ebbw Vale winning 3-1 at Newport Civil Service, although Blues now have a game in hand. The 2nd XI jumped up to second behind Mardy in Gwent Central Division One after a tight 3-2 win against derby rivals Forgeside at Govilon playing fields. Ian Scandrett, Taine Jones and Bailey Perry hit the target for Blues, while Graham Rees and Declan Heaven fired home for the hosts.

Luke Welsh and Nathan Wall also secured a long-awaited second win of the season for basement boys Clydach Wasps 2nds as they triumphed 2-0 over mid-table visitors Race.

Fixtures this Saturday (March 26) include – Gilwern & District v Trinant, Nantyglo v Crickhowell, Usk Town v The Oak, PILCS 2nds v Mardy 2nds.

With the clocks changing this weekend, Clydach Wasps also play Newport Saints next Wednesday (March 30) night.