TWO goals by Sudbrook in the first five minutes caught Abbey cold and made their task even greater against the highest-scoring side in the league.

The only comfort the visitors can have is that they halted Sudbrook's run of six clean sheets when Geraint Reynolds scored his 30th goal of the season with a bending shot that sailed past home keeper Steve Hepple.

Sudbrook started with great pace and purpose and Richard Lund set up the first goal after three minutes, crossing for Zak Hitchens to score at the far post.

Two minutes later, Tom Stuart made it 2-0 after good play from Oli Mottram and Keenan Perrett and it seemed another high-scoring match was on the cards.

But central defender Stuart Williams sorted out his colleagues and manager Martin Woodford ordered a change of formation to strengthen the midfield where Tom Collins was in fine form.

Reynolds reduced the deficit with his wonder goal and it was very much, game on.

After the break, defences were largely on top until Jamie Woodfield found Perrett who scored Sudbrook's third.

Abbey still came forward and late on David Sefton cleared Richard Stevens' goal-bound header – although Hepple claimed he would have saved it.

Co-manager Daryl Cann was delighted by the result which now sees his team well ahead of promotion rivals Underwood and Severn Tunnel A on points and goal difference.

"I'm glad we didn't enter the Gwent Amateur Cup," he said. "The further that Underwood and Severn Tunnel progress in that competition, the more games in hand they will have over us and that will put pressure on them.

"It was always going to be a battle as Tintern are known for it.

"I'm really happy to go six points clear at the top of the table."

In the only other fixture to survive the weather, Severn Tunnel C switched their home game to Beachley to play Chepstow Town B and won 2-1 thanks to a strike by Jamie Ross and an own goal, with Nick Nesbitt scoring for Town.

Town manager Dean Barnett said his team was missing key players, including the injured Paul Light.

"We just couldn't put it to bed," he added.