East Gwent Senior League - Severn Tunnel A v Underwood SC (match abandoned)

THE Division One title race erupted in a violent brawl at Rogiet Sportsfield at the weekend.

In the crucial clash, Severn Tunnel A and Underwood SC A went head-to-head in a winner-takes-all encounter that simmered throughout and eventually boiled over in the 83rd minute.

Both teams hope to take the single promotion place into next season’s Gwent County League campaign and second-placed Severn Tunnel knew three points would put them in an unassailable position.

They were leading 2-0 through first half goals from Chris Taylor and Tom Pickin when the first major clash took place in the 70th minute.

Tunnel’s keeper Sam Morgan and Underwood’s Sean Johnson were red-carded by referee Richard Beach for fighting after an incident at a corner and, minutes later, Tunnel went further ahead through a Rhys Briscoe penalty although Underwood reduced the deficit with a goal by Kyle Brown.

As the visitors went in search of two goals, the game was abandoned after an off-the-ball incident resulted in an 18-player brawl.

The decision on whether the score will stand will be dealt with by the East Gwent Senior League (EGSL) management committee while the Gwent County FA will deal with disciplinary decisions.

The EGSL committee was understood to be meeting on Sunday evening to decide on Saturday’s events, including the cancellation of two matches by clubs unable to field a team.

One of the clubs, Chepstow Athletic, was due to play Mathern Reserves on Saturday but cancelled the match at late notice and under league rules, the match and the points were awarded to Mathern in a 5-0 victory.

However, Tunnel have just two matches left to play this season and both are against Athletic.

If the league expels Athletic or the club decides to withdraw from the league, either of which is possible, all its matches this season will be declared void and points gained and goals scored against them will be removed.

That could have a knock-on effect on the league title, promotion and the winner of the Golden Boot.

Elsewhere in Division One Undy Athletic beat Caldicot Castle A 4-0 with a brace from George Mollard and goals by Luke Smith and Michael Waters.

In Division Two, Mathern Reserves B won 5-1 at Sudbrook CC thanks to two goals from Kyle Gettings and James Burchill and a goal from Harry Ward to please manager Jeff Waterhouse.

“You always know Sudbrook CC will be a tough game,” he said.

“We should have scored more, really. Our midfield of Tom Watson, Jimmy Burchill and Harry Johnstone were excellent but also guilty of overplaying it on a poor pitch.

“We gifted them a goal in the later stages through not attacking the ball in the air but our back four were superb.”

Leading scorer Kyle Gettings was denied a hat-trick when he was ordered to retake a penalty and missed.

“I was gutted,” Gettings said later. “As we were walking off at the end, the ref agreed the first penalty, which I scored, should have stood. Still, there’s always the next match!”

The other results in Division Two were Thornwell R&W 0 Underwood SC B 7; Portskewett and Sudbrook 5 Severn Tunnel C 0; Caldicot Castle B 0 Chepstow Town 5.