East Gwent Senior League

SEVERN Tunnel A kept the pressure on Mathern A in East Gwent League Division One with a 6-0 home win against Thornwell Red and White A on Saturday (12th December.)

And Underwood SC A are hot on the heels of the leaders after a 5-0 win of their own.

With Mathern’s match at Chepstow Athletic cancelled because Athletic were unable to field a team, all three teams are breaking away from the rest of Division One having played 11 matches each.

Tunnel’s home victory over Thornwell Red and White A was probably the most significant because the visitors hope to make an early return to the Gwent County League. With the title race finely balanced, the race for promotion looks to be a case of who can hold their nerve in the New Year.

After the defeat, Red and White’s boss Terry Woodward admitted Tunnel were the better side.

“We were never in it,” he said. “They played some good stuff even though most of their goals came from long balls turning us and then crosses.

“We missed Neil Brown who gives us a bit extra defensively and in the air but it was good to get one of our young lads Cameron Pritchard in for a game.

Three sides

standing as title race hots up

“We need to start bringing them in and there are a couple more from our old under-16s team.

“It was a hard one for us after not playing for a few weeks. I’ve no complaints apart from a couple of dodgy offside decisions which didn’t go our way but they were better than us.”

Tunnel’s goals came from Tom Atkins (2), Marc Carter-Selwood (2), Chris Taylor and Jack Harrison while Josh Downing, Dave Jackson, Kyle Harrison, Sean Johnson and Justin Bidgood sealed Underwood’s victory.

Tunnel and Underwood are three points behind Mathern who they both still have to visit and they are also due to play each other – at Rogiet Sportsfield – after drawing 3-3 at Underwood in October.

In the only other Division One match to be played, Severn Bridge won 4-2 at Tintern Abbey.

Bridge’s goals came from Paul Trask (2), Gareth Jones and Chris Hooper while Abbey’s marksmen were Geraint Reynolds and Joe Whitehouse.