East Gwent Senior League Division 1

MATHERN Reserves A and Underwood SC are locked together at the top of division one, with identical records after three games.

The two clubs, so often rivals in the past few years, are the only teams with 100 per cent records and that is certain to change next month as they are due to play each other in league games, Mathern at home on 3rd October and the return on 17th October.

With only league and cup titles to play for, Mathern would like nothing more than to make Underwood, Thornwell and Severn Tunnel fight among themselves for the coveted promotion to the Gwent County League and Lee Baker’s Mathern team showed they will be tough to overcome when they won 11-0 at Severn Bridge at the weekend.

In a message posted on social media, Baker was jubilant.

“We put Bridge under pressure early and battered the belief out of them. Defensively we were solid all game, hence the clean sheet.

“We played great football and scored loads of goals. It was a ruthless scoreline and well deserved.”

Dan Tyler (3), Richie Wood (2), Hywel Pugh (2), Jack Stewart, Harry Lewis, Rob Wood and Tom Watson completed the rout.

Meanwhile, Underwood won 5-2 at Thornwell Red & White whose manager Terry Woodward was disappointed with the result.

“We didn’t really step up at all,” he said. “We didn’t pass the ball when we had it and our better players weren’t great.

“They scored a couple of debatable goals but we were beaten by the better side on the day.

“We managed to get back in it a couple of times but all we did was defend and after this disappointment we have to bounce back next week.”

Severn Tunnel are third following a 3-1 home win over Undy Athletic and Caldicot Town are fourth thanks to a 7-3 success at home to Tintern Abbey with the goals coming from Tom Corner (4), Luke Hall (2) and Elliot Thomas.

Finally, Chepstow Athletic gained their first points with their first home game of the season, edging out Caldicot Castle A 3-2.