Panteg must wait for Danny Gabbidon's debut

The 36-year-old player-coach is unavailable for Panteg's home Welsh Cup tie against Division Three rivals Newport YMCA tomorrow night – the game that kicks off the weekend's local football action.

Friday (kick off 6.30pm)

Welsh Cup, round one (to be played to a conclusion)

Panteg House: Panteg v Newport YMCA (6.30pm)

Just 24 hours after announcing the signing of Danny Gabbidon, Panteg went some way to proving they may need some defensive quality in losing 4-1 at home against Abergavenny Town.

Rhys Williams reduced the arrears after Richard Jerimiah (3) and Jamie Summers, who was later sent off, had put Abergavenny in control and the outcome followed up Panteg's 1-1 away draw with Newport Civil Service.

YMCA began their lower-tier campaign in winning fashion in seeing off visiting Bettws (Bridgend) 3-1 at their Mendgalief Road HQ last Saturday.

However newly-appointed manager Nick Morgan saw his troops slip to a 2-0 away reverse at the hands of county rivals Caerleon in mid-week.

Saturday (all 2.30pm kick offs)

Welsh Cup, round one (ties to be played to conclusion)

Spytty Stadium: Lliswerry v Newport Civil Service

This tie is a quick-fire return of Wednesday's Division Three clash at Shannon Close in Bettws, where Lliswerry emerged 2-1 victors.

By the time August 26 is over, these teams will know each other's games inside out as they meet again on that date in another league encounter.

Lliswerry boss Matty Smith saw his side score through Dean Merrett and Michael Vaux with Ryan Smith grabbing NCS' consolation.

The win made up for a disappointing home 2-1 loss to Bridgend Street (Cardiff) last weekend, when NCS were drawing 1-1 against visiting Panteg.

Sports Complex: Tredegar Town v Caerleon

Tredegar earned their first three-pointer of the new season in mid-week, when an Ian Pettit goal produced a 1-0 win at Treowen Stars

This clash is their third consecutive at home as they'd previously slipped to a 2-0 reverse at the hands of in-form newcomers Abergavenny Town

Caerleon picked up their opening win of the campaign on Tuesday, when goals from Luke Cueto and Mark Millinship earned a 2-0 home success over Newport YMCA.

That followed an opening-day 2-2 draw at Ely Rangers and the results suggests the Cold Bath Road outfit is on the road to recovery following last season's relegation.

Bush Park: Treowen Stars v Aber Valley

It's not been a good start for manager Simon Evans' troops, who are rock bottom of the entire 51-strong league having failed to score in two outings.

They slumped to a thumping 6-0 opening-day reverse at now-unbeaten-leaders Pontypridd Town before going down 1-0 at Tredegar.

Nonetheless this tie does offer Treowen with an opportunity to lift moral by progressing to the next round, although nobody is suggesting this is an any way a 'gimme.'

However Aber Valley have also lost the two South Wales Alliance Premier Division fixtures they've played, 2-1 at home to Trefelin and 4-3 at Pontlottyn.

Welsh League

Division One: (figures in brackets relate to finishing positions of 16)

Lakeside Sports Academy: Cambrian & Clydach (13) v Monmouth Town (10)

Monmouth secured a first point on Wednesday, when they shared a six-goal thriller at Plough Road against unbeaten hosts Goytre.

Dan MacDonald scored twice with the other goal coming from Richard Greaves, but the down side was The Kingfishers had Rob Laurie sent off.

The went down to a 2-1 defeat at Taffs Well previously and this battle of the former champions is a difficult one to predict as the hosts have also yet to win.

They lost 2-1 at Goytre United before their home mid-week clash against Taffs Well was abandoned because of floodlight failure on 78 minutes, when the score stood at 1-1.

Form guide:

C&C: L A

Monmouth: L D

Plough Road: Goytre (3) v Aberbargoed Buds (11)

Goytre recruited heavily in pre-season and because of that, could take some time to settle down - although they remain unbeaten.

Joint managers Carl Evans and Lee Relish have watched on as their charges have won 4-0 at Afan Lido and drawn 3-3 at home with county rivals Monmouth - scoring against The Kingfishers on Wednesday were Alex Evans, Josh Brown James Young.

Aberbargoed, on the other hand, are still seeking to post their first success and here must recover from a 4-1 mid-week defeat at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

On target then was Aaron Thomas, although Gavin Meacham was sent off as Aberbargoed followed up a 1-1 draw against Penybont on their 3G pitch at Ystrad Mynach.

Form guide:

Goytre: W D

Aberbargoed: D L

Ystrad Mynach Sports Complex: Risca United (16) v Ton Pentre ()

It's been a disappointing start to Risca's first season at this level for 18 years and here the seek to end a run of two successive 1-0 defeats.

The Cuckoos lost to a late penalty at Briton Ferry Llansawel last Saturday before an early goal from Barry Town United meant a loss on their competitive debut at this venue in front of 424 fans on Tuesday.

However reports indicate player-manager Paul Michael's men could well have got something out of both games, so certainly there is no need to press the panic button.

Ton's opening game resulted in a fine 3-1 home triumph over Aberdare Town, but they failed to follow that up when losing 3-0 at current title-holders Caerau (Ely).

Form guide:

Risca: L L

Ton: W L

Division Two (figures in brackets relate to finishing positions of 16)

Recreation Ground: Ammanford (5) v Llanwern (13)

Newly-apppointed boss Ben Hartrey's side was one of only a couple not to be in mid-week action and here face their longest trip of the season.

They do so on the back of a 1-0 defeat at the hands of hosts Cwmamman United, who like Ammanford were promoted from Division Three at the end of 2014-2015.

Some believe Hartrey is facing a difficult task to bring success to Llanwern and this is another tough ask to earn a first win of the season.

Ammanford opened by winning 2-1 at Swansea-based West End and grabbed another point from a 1-1 draw against fellow-west Walians Pontardawe Town.

Form guide:

Llanwern: L -

Ammanford: W D

Jubilee Way: Caldicot Town (3) v Croesyceiliog (14)

Caldicot's failure to gain promotion from a highly-promising position last season should now be forgotton about as this is a new chapter in their history.

However they have got off a similar start in beating visiting Penrhiwceiber Rangers 5-2 and winning 1-0 at Chepstow Town in mid-week, when a late Richard Sharratt penalty gave them the points.

Croesyceiliog have played only once when losing 2-0 at AFC Llwydcoed last Saturday and they would certainly have to up their performance from that game to get a positive result here.

But being underdogs often suits Croesyceiliog and manager Mark Waddon will doubtless have his troops all fired up for this county derby.

Form guide:

Caldicot: W W

Croesyceiliog: L -

Larkfield Ground: Chepstow Town (16) v AFC Llwydcoed (3)

When you lose you first match of the season 7-1, a follow-up 1-0 home defeat at the hands of your closest rivals could in many ways be seen as progress.

Therefore Chepstow may start here with a bit more confidence having ran Caldicot close on Wednesday following that opening-day at Llanelli Town.

But manager Dave Livermore and much-travelled assistant Gary Proctor will still have big task on their hands to ensure their side does well here as the visitors have won both their games to date.

Llwydcoed began with a 2-0 home success over Croesyceiliog and then defeated hosts Penrhiwceiber Rangers 4-2 in mid-week.

Form guide:

Chepstow: L L

Llwydcoed: W W

Celtic Park: Cwmbran Celtic (4) v West End (Swansea) (7)

Celtic and their new boss Nicky Church will here be flat out to post a third successive triumph following a couple of impressive away victories.

They posted a 2-1 win at Pontardawe Town last weekend and then had to recover from a 2-0 interval deficit before emerging 4-2 victors at Undy Athletic.

On target were Josh Bull with a fine hat-trick and Chris Ham, the former taking his goal tally to four in those two games to jointly head the list for players attached to Gwent clubs with Abergavenny Town's Richard Jerimiah.

West End have made an inconsistent start in losing 2-1 against visiting Ammanford and then winning 1-0 at Cwmamman United.

Form guide:

Celtic: W W

West End: L W

Parc Ynysderw: Pontardawe Town (11) v Undy Athletic (6)

Undy will be kicking themselves for failing to follow up a 6-1 home thrashing of AFC Porth when they hosted Cwmbran Celtic.

Goals from Rhys Aherne and Gareth Cullimore had joint managers Michael Flynn and Laurence Owen delighted at the break with a 2-0 lead.

However it all went wrong in the second period, when Celtic fought back to win 4-2 and the 65th-minute dismissal of Aherne certainly didn't help Undy's cause.

The hosts were beaten 2-1 at home by Celtic in their opener, but the secuerd a point by earning party with a 1-1 draw at Ammanford.

Form guide:

Pontardawe: L D

Undy: W L

Autocentres Gwent County League

Division One: Abertillery Excelsiors v Pentwynmawr Athletic; Blaenavon Blues v Trethomas Bluebirds; Cwmbran Town v Marshfield; Cwmffrwdoer Sports v Pill; Llanhilleth Athletic v AC Pontymister; Malpas United v Abercarn United; Newport Corinthians v Albion Rovers; P.I.L.C.S. v Abertillery Bluebirds.

Division Two: Coed Eva Athletic v Lucas Cwmbran; Cromwell v Sebastopol; Cwm v Tredegar Athletic; Fairfield United v Ynysddu Welfare; Mardy v RTB Ebbw Vale; Mathern v Clydach Wasps; Neuadd Wen v Cefn Fforest; Spencer Youth & BC v New Inn.

Division Three: Blackrock Rovers v Pontnewydd; Caldicot Castle v Tranch; Nantyglo v Wainfelin Bluebirds; Penygarn & Trevethin v Rhymney; Race v Rogerstone; Rockfield Rovers v Wattsville; Villa Dino Christchurch v Sudbrook Cricket Club West of St. Julians v Ponthir.