Gwent County League Division Three - Sudbrook CC 4 Brynmawr 2

THREE second-half goals kept Sudbrook CC in the driving seat for the Division Three title.

The scores were 1-1 at the break, Tom Turner putting the home side ahead with a close-range shot following a corner and Brynmawr responding 10 minutes later with a strong header from 15 yards.

The visitors had clearly come to earn a draw and their celebrations following the equaliser suggested they thought they had done enough against a Sudbrook side missing a number of key regulars.

Team skipper Steve Phillips was replaced due to injury at half time and assistant manager Drew Main reshuffled his defence with Kel Stevens moving into the back three and new signing David Lloyd making his debut at centre midfield.

That move, coupled with whatever Main had said to his players during the team-talk, produced an almost immediate impact as Richie Lloyd drilled home a shot after good work by Turner to restore Sudbrook’s lead.

Despondent but still very much in it, the visitors were urged on by their manager and supporters but it all went quiet when Richie Lloyd delivered a teasing, curling cross from the right which caused havoc in the visitors’ defence.

Lloyd Williams challenged Brynmawr’s central defender and managed to get the deftest of touches with his head to divert the ball inside the far post.

That should have been that but, despite being in total control, Sudbrook were dealt a blow when Steve Hepple – deputising in goal for the injured Craig Brimble – lost control of a back pass and the visitors gleefully made it 3-2.

That point was tantalisingly close but Hepple atoned for the hiccup a few minutes later.

Collecting the ball from a weak shot, he spotted Turner unmarked out on the left and found him with a superb throw straight to his feet.

Turner ran strongly at Brynmawr’s defence before firing past the keeper as he came out to narrow the angle.

Later, Main said he had been pleased with the way the team dealt with Brynmawr’s physicality.

“We knew they had a few older players and were a physical side, so our fitness would be a deciding factor,” he said.

”We pressed and hunted the ball as a team – something we discussed before the game – and the team executed it perfectly.

“It was obvious we had to match them in any tackle and we were always first to any challenge and second balls.

“Every player performed to a very high level and it was arguably our best tackling, closing down and tracking performance of the season.

“We defended from the front and never gave them a minute’s rest.

“Now our attention turns to the local derby against Severn Tunnel next week when we should be back to full strength on and off the field.”