BLACKROCK Rovers spurned their last chance to stay in Division Two amid the chaos of the Gwent County League fixture mix-up at the weekend.

But Rovers boss Paul Lovell summed up his feelings in four words: "Relegated without a whisper," he said as he walked from the pitch after watching his team lose 3-0 at home to Sebastopol.

Rovers could have won, should have won but maybe the result had been decided before a ball had been kicked, thanks to the confusion over what they needed to do to avoid the drop.

Sebastopol players said the game was their last of the season while one of the management team said they still had one game to play.

That proved incorrect and it all boiled down to one simple fact – the winner would stay up, the loser would suffer relegation.

Sebastopol's players ignored the warnings and went for it from the first whistle and were celebrating by half time when they led 2-0 through Craig Leighton's brace.

That might have been a little premature as manager Paul Lovell's half-time team talk seemed to galvanise the home side into putting together more promising attacks and they might have reduced or even cancelled the deficit had the visitors' keeper Andrew Pask not been brave enough to smother close-range goalbound efforts.

Rovers' spirit was severely tested when substitute Elliot Perry galloped down the right wing before firing the third.

So Sebastopol, who were promoted as champions to Division 2 last season, survived for another year while Rovers face six derbies against Rockfield Rovers, Caldicot Castle and Sudbrook CC next season.

Mathern FC ended RTB Ebbw Vale's promotion hopes just four days after severely denting Cromwell's ambitions.

Promoted as runners-up to Sebastopol, Mathern have consolidated their position in Division 2 and will finish sixth in the table no matter what happened in their final match last night, against Cefn Fforest.

Manager Dean Thomas admitted the draw at Ebbw Vale had been the toughest all season.

"They were a very good side, a lot different in personnel to the team we beat at home earlier in the season," he said.

"We started very well and had the better of the first half, going in at the break 1-0 up after an own goal by their left back.

"But in the second half they threw everything at us and scored with about 20 minutes to go.

"Josh Harding made some great saves to keep us on level terms and the effort and commitment from all the players saw us take a well-deserved point."