AFTER the high of producing a winning start to their MacWhirter Welsh League Division One career, Cwmbran Celtic were brought crashing to earth by a home defeat.

Division and county rivals Caldicot Town also had their wings clipped in suffering a second home reverse in the space of three days.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom as Abertillery Bluebirds and Goytre lead the Division Two and Three tables respectively with 100 per cent records after two games.

Celtic hosted last season’s runners-up Cambrian & Clydach – just days following a brilliant 3-2 success at Caldicot.

But they are minus their leading goal-scorer, Scott Lanyon, who was unavailable for kick-off following the birth of his son the previous night.

Already minus another striker, Shane Williamson, it left Celtic with a front two of 17-year-old Jonathan Dunn and Simon Prangley, who usually excels as a left-side full back or midfielder.

And try as they might, the makeshift duo simply couldn’t find a way past a an extremely well-organised visiting rearguard.

There was more bad news for Celtic when midfielder Luke Sallis was sent off towards the back end of the game for a second caution before right back Liam Palmer was red-carded for directing foul and abusive language at the referee after the final whistle.

Indeed, Sallis’ foul and the resulting free kick led directly to the winning goal scored on 87 minutes by C&C defender Jamie Rewbury.

The manner of the defeat was all the more disappointing because it came just three minutes after Celtic had looked to have gained a point thanks to a late equaliser by substitute Richard Crees.

A Palmer throw-in was helped on by defender Lloyd Davies to enable debut-making Crees to head home and produce huge sighs of relief all round.

Those, however, soon changed to sighs of despair as up popped Rowbury to steer the ball past goalkeeper Nicky Church.

Seconds after the game’s end, Celtic assistant manager Della Cheedy expressed his thoughts on his side’s demise.

“The players have given us everything, but when you have three vastly experienced central defenders as they did then it’s always going to be difficult – and so it proved.

“Because of our inexperience up front the ball kept coming back and at us, and while we did well to force our way back into it, we are all gutted to lose in such circumstances.

“We have shown a lack of discipline as well in having two sent off and we will address that topic in-house.”

Having lost out to Celtic in mid-week, Caldicot were looking to make amends against visiting Aberaman Athletic at Jubilee Way.

But although the home side played well in patches, it was Aberaman who eased to a 3-0 success with one of their goals being scored by former Cwmbran Town striker Sam Small.

Besides Abertillery in Division Two, Caerleon are off the mark with a home win, Aberbargoed Buds got an away point, but Croesyceiliog failed to visitors reduced to nine following two sending-offs, while Newport YMCA were thrashed 5-1 on the road.

Promoted Abertillery had Phillip Neville, Tom Heard and Owen Goodenough in goal-scoring form in a 3-1 home success over AFC Porth, while Dan Cueto grabbed Caerleon’s effort in the 1-0 victory over visiting Newcastle Emlyn.

The Buds travelled to face Bridgend-based Bettws, where Dean Randall netted for them in a 1-1 draw – the same scoreline by which hosts Croesyceiliog were held.

Up against a Dinas Powys team down to nine men, manager Gareth Morgan witnessed Daniel Clouth fire his team in front 10 minutes into the second period.

It looked enough to be classed as the winner – only for Dinas to snatch an unlikely point with an equaliser just seven minutes from time.

“Yes, disappointing fits the bill,” said Morgan, who is minus injured striker Jamie Jenkins, last season’s joint scorer in the Hotshots charts with Buds’ Ross Fowler.

“But at the same time, I have to give credit to Dinas Powys, who are a good team which will do well this season.”

YMCA were at Treharris Athletic Western, but returned home with only the memory of a Phil Tranter goal to cheer themselves up.

In Division Three, leaders Goytre won 3-1 and there were also wins for Tredegar Town, Newport Civil Service and newcomers Treowen Stars.

Goytre scored via Matthew Prosser, Dale Clarke (penalty) and Lewis Clare in a 3-2 win at Pontypridd Town – although Chris Pritchard missed from the spot after Clarke had gone off.

Tredegar returned from Porthcawl Town 4-2 victors, Chris Lloyd, Rowan Tipping, Scott Mantle and Ian Petitt their scorers, while NCS had Matthew Lawrence, Gareth Cleverly (pen), Joey Carless and Matthew Palmer netting in a 4-0 win at South Gower.

Treowen’s goal in the 1-0 home success over county rivals Llanwern came via Neil Mathieson, Risca United had Gary Moores on target in a 1-1 home draw with Cardiff Grange Harlequins, and Cwmbran Town, who travelled to face another club demoted at the end of last season, UWIC, had Kristian Powell to thank for earning them a point in another 1-1 stalemate.

Match of the day, though, in terms of goals was Monmouth Town’s 4-4 draw at Maesteg-based Caerau, where a fine Matthew Bowen hat trick was added to a strike from Sam Palmer for the Kingfishers.

Hotshots: 7 – Olly Beckett (Newport YMCA).

4 – Matthew Bowen (Monmouth Town), Andy Gay (Risca United, Matthew Lawrence (Newport Civil Service). 3 – Daniel Edwards (Newport YMCA), Neil Mathieson (Treowen Stars), Callum Miles (Croesyceiliog); Kristian Powell (Cwmbran Town). 2 – Ben Burrows (Newport Civil Service), Lewis Clare (Goytre), Dale Clark (Goytre), David Dando (Treowen Stars), Gary Evans (Treowen Stars), Calvin Farrow (Risca United), Ashley Ford (Monmouth Town), Elliott Ford (Monmouth Town), Owen Goodenough (Aberbargoed Buds), Sam Graves (Croesyceiliog), Martin Houston (Cwmbran Town); Craig Jollife (Goytre), Mark Gunter (Newport Civil Service), Scott Lanyon (Cwmbran Town); Craig Lewis (Monmouth Town), David Lloyd (Caldicot Town); Gary Moores (Risca United), Sam Palmer (Monmouth Town), Marcus Power (Llanwern), Luke Prosser (Goytre).

Clean sheets: 2 – Croesyceiliog, Monmouth Town, Treowen Stars, Caerleon, Cwmbran Town, Goytre, Newport Civil Service, Newport YMCA, Risca United.

l There are no scheduled mid-week games involving Gwent clubs.