Tredegar's relegation fears all in past

3:56pm Monday 12th May 2008

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THERE wasn't much to shout about on the field as eight local football teams failed to register a single MacWhirter Welsh League victory - although Tredegar Town did have something to cheer in escaping relegation from Division Two.

Player-manager Andrew York's men travelled to Swansea to face West End knowing defeat for them and wins for fellow strugglers Treharris Athletic and Troedyrhiw would mean Division Three football in 2008-09.

It looked ominous when Tredegar lost 1-0 and then discovered Treharris saved themselves by defeating visiting Ammanford 3-1.

But soon there were scenes of much celebration as news filtered through that Troedyrhiw had lost 2-0 at home Caerau (Ely), a result which at last ended Tredegar's fears of relegation.

Bottom of the league with only eight points shortly before Christmas, Tredegar appointed as player-manager Nantyglo-born Andrew York, who picked up much experience and silverware while skipper of Barry Town and Merthyr Tydfil.

Initially Tredegar climbed away, but hit a bad patch which once again threatened their status.

"We pulled through in the end and everyone deserves a pat on the back," said former Wales semi-professional defender York.

"It was a group effort and now we can relax for a short while before preparing for next season.

"The idea, of course, is to sign some players in the close season with a view to ensuring we don't get ourselves into the same predicament again."

In the same division Llanwern were without no fewer than ten players and were forced to play manager Laurence Owen as a replacement goalkeeper for the injured Chris Hart for the trip to face Llangeinor.

Little wonder, then, that the hosts finished as 3-0 winners, an outcome which means Llanwern finished as the county's highest-placed club in the division - one position above Cwmbran Celtic and seven in front of Tredegar.

"There are no excuses for this defeat," said Owen. "As you are aware, this is not the first game that we've been down to the bones for team selection, and ten unavailable just beat our old record by one!

"I really do believe had we been able to have everyone out there who I wanted, that we would have been pushing for promotion.

"I'm not saying we would have gone up, but we'd have been knocking on the door. But we are happy to have finished as Gwent's best team in the division."

Saturday saw the end of a hectic eight-day period for Division One outfit Newport YMCA, who surprisingly went down 4-1 at home to already-relegated Maesteg Park Athletic.

The match at a sun-kissed Mendalgief Road was manager Mark Coldrick's side's fourth in that period.

And while the visitors scored some superb goals, YMCA missed a hat full of chances and this game could well have ended up in a victory something along the lines of 9-7 to the Gwent team.

But it wasn't to be and YMCA's only consolation came from Leighton Burrows, whose 49th-minure effort reduced the arrears to 2-1.

"Four games in a week is a punishing schedule," said Coldrick. "Two of them were high-tempo matches, we faced Bryntirion Athletic last Tuesday (won 2-1) seeking revenge for the 5-0 stuffing we got at their place last Saturday, and then we beat Croesyceiliog 3-1 in a Gwent derby on Thursday.

"I saw the response from my players at the end, it was one of huge disappointment because they didn't take their chances.

"But we'll have a week off now to prepare for our last game of the season at home against Afan Lido on Saturday (kick-off noon)."

By then, YMCA will know if they need anything from the match to secure their current eighth position and pip Caerleon to the much-valued title as Gwent's best-placed club.

Caerleon are three points behind, but with a better goal difference. However, their final outing is away to Port Talbot-based Goytre United on Tuesday, when a win for the home side will make them Division One champions.

In the same section, Caldicot Town lost 3-1 at home to third-placed Ton Pentre while Cwmbran, who are 12th, went down to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of hosts Bryntirion.

Caldicot, who scored via Jason Thorn, can finish 10th with victory against Pontardawe Town at the home ground of Morriston Town FC on Wednesday.

In Division Three, ever-improving Aberbargoed Buds stretched their unbeaten run to 10, although there was huge disappointment that they could only draw 2-2 at home to Porthcawl Town, who finished two places below in eighth.

However, as Buds boss Billy Vaughan explains, a controversially awarded penalty to the visitors certainly didn't help matters "Our full back Rob Shorney tackled Porthcawl, who praised him for his effort. But suddenly, the referee has awarded a penalty," said Vaughan, whose side scored through Ross Fowler and Dean Randall.

"Not one of their players appealed for a penalty and that decision will forever remain a complete mystery.

"But the truth is we had enough possession, almost 90 percent after the break, to have won and it's as simple as that.

"We are delighted to have kept our unbeaten record and we'll be bidding to do the same on Tuesday at Seven Sisters."

Victory could see the Buds claim sixth spot, while elsewhere Monmouth Town ended the campaign 11th after slipping to a 3-1 away defeat at Penrhiwceiber Rangers while relegated Abertillery Excelsiors' recent mini-revival of two consecutive wins came well and truly to an end when they got thumped 8-0 at already-promoted Newcastle Emlyn.

Division One sides Caerleon and Croesyceiliog, Division Two outfit Cwmbran Celtic plus Division Three clubs Goytre United and Risca United were all without a game.

Remaining fixtures involving Gwent clubs (6.30pm kick-offs unless stated): Tuesday, May 13. Division One - Goytre United v Caerleon (7.30pm kick off). Division Three - Merthyr Saints v Risca United; Severn Sisters v Aberbargoed Buds. Wednesday, May 14. Division One - Pontardawe Town v Caldicot Town (at Morriston Town FC, 7.00pm). Saturday, May 17. Division One - Newport YMCA v Afan Lido (noon).