CELTIC GAINS ACADEMY STATUS

25 May 2007

AMBITIOUS Cwmbran Celtic have targeted promotion to the top tier of Welsh domestic football.

The Celtic Park outfit is now just two steps from gaining a place in the Welsh Premier League after recently winning promotion to Division One of the MacWhirter Welsh League.

However an even significant move came recently when the club was granted academy status, a pre-requisite of membership to the WPL.

Celtic went head-to-head with Cwmbran Town for the right to put their name to the academy at the town's Fairwater High School - and came out on top.

"It's great news and hopefully it will help speed up our ambition to progress to the Welsh Premier League," said Celtic secretary Malcolm Jarrett.

"However we'd only want to play at that level if we managed to find the right financial package. We wouldn't want to do as some clubs have done and relied on one particular individual or one company."

Town suffered WPL relegation at the end of this season, just over two years after their sole benefactor, club chairman and local businessman John Colley, retired from football.

Now the Crows have suffered another massive blow by losing their academy status, a scenario which rules them out of a return to the WPL.

There was added spice to the situation because one of the academy's leading figures is Celtic first-team coach Della Cheedy, who previously held a similar position with Town.

"We had a partnership agreement with Cwmbran Town which had operated for some six years, but that had actually expired,” said Fairwater High School headteacher Stephen Cocks.

"The school governors felt very, very strongly that they had a responsibility to actually find the best deal for the students.

"So they invited interested football clubs to come along and make a presentation and it was after the presentation that Cwmbran Celtic was chosen.

"Everybody who knows Della Cheedy recognises that he's a fantastic coach and has tremendous respect from all concerned."

Town last week appointed Spaniard Guillermo Ganet as their new manager and he now faces a difficult task to revive the Crows fortunes.

"It is with regret that Fairwater High School has decided to join in partnership with Cwmbran Celtic AFC,” said a Town committee spokesman. "However the board of governor's has made its decision and we respect that. We would like to wish both parties the very best in their partnership and wish the coaching staff at the academy well.

"In particular Mark Croizer who has worked tremendously hard on behalf of Cwmbran Town Football Club during the period of our association."

Town will play in Division One of the WL next season.

EX-LA LIGA MAN IS NEW CROWS BOSS

19 May 2007

CWMBRAN Town have unveiled a former midfielder with La Liga outfit Valencia as their new manager. Spaniard Guillermo Ganet succeeds Cwmbran-based Sean Wharton, who resigned following the Crows relegation from the Welsh Premier League at the end of the 2006-7 season.

Ganet attended a meeting with a number of the club’s playing staff and committee at the Crows’ Old Cwmbran-based clubhouse last night before speaking to the Argus ahead of catching a midnight flight back to Spain.

“I’m delighted and honoured to be joining Cwmbran Town,” he said. I’ll be returning early next week when I look forward to speaking to you at length about how I see the way forward for this club. Ganet spent a month in charge of Welsh League Division One outfit UWIC earlier this year and brought in a couple of players from Cameroon.

Before joining the students, Ganet was In charge of Welwyn Garden City, who he guided to promotion, and was also on the coaching staff at Watford.

Guillermo's playing carer took him from Spain to England and the non-league scene with a host of different clubs before he entered management first at Windsor & Eton.

A cash crisis nearly two years ago proved to be the catalyst for Cwmbran’s eventual demise from the top flight of Welsh domestic football.

Now as they prepare for life in the Welsh League following a 15-season absence, the Crows have turned to Ganet, who watched the Crows towards the end of the season, to help them on the road to recovery.

‘We’re extremely pleased that Guillermo has agreed to join us and we look forward to his input over the coming months,” said a Cwmbran committee spokesman. Cwmbran fans will get the chance to meet Ganet on Thursday when the Crows host an open forum at its clubhouse, 7.30pm start.

Ganet is not the first Spaniard to be in charge of first-team affairs at a Welsh football club. Two seasons ago, Welsh Premier League side Llanelli appointed former La Liga defender Lucas Cazoria Luquebe as director of football.

But his reign was short-lived and he was replaced by former Newport County boss Peter Nicholas, who has since guided them to successive European campaigns.

CAERLEON CRUISE

17 May 2007

CAERLEON beat visiting Afan Lido 4-1 at home in their final game of the season last night to jump two places to 10th in the MacWhirter Welsh League, Division One table.

The Welsh Cup runners-up, who had Chris Latham sent off after the break, took the lead before Caerleon cruised to home after goals front Luke Cueto, Martin Phillips and a penalty each from Matthew Beam and Ben Davies.

Meanwhile Chris Mills and Mark Jones scored and ‘keeper John Bailey was man of the match as Croesyceiliog beat Dinas Powys 2-1 at Tails Well to lift the Harris Printers (Reserve Division) Cup.

NO CROWING OVER CLUB’S NEW BOSS

16 May 2007

CWMBRAN Town were today remaining tight-lipped about any appointment of a new manager and whether it has recruited a main sponsor.

The club held a committee meeting last night to discuss both matters, although an expected statement never materialised The Crows' managerial hot-seat has been vacant since Sean Wharton quit at the end of last season, when relegation spelt the end of the club's 15-year-old Welsh Premier League status.

And Cwmbran has been without a main financial backer since local businessman John Colley retired from football before the start of the 2005-06 campaign.

One of the favourites to replace Wharton is Coed Eva FC's Steve Grey, who was a member of his back-room staff, while it's understood a Gwent-based sports-kit supplier is to provide financial clout.

A quick managerial appointment, however, would appear to contradict the club's recent statement that it would advertise the vacancy in the local press and on its web-site.

But with Cwmbran now joining four other sides from the county in next season's Welsh League Division One, it's obvious the need to install a new man to crack on with player recruitment over-rode that original plan.

Following Colley's departure, Cwmbran soon found itself in the middle of a cash-crisis - leading to then-manager Brian Coyne and the majority of the club's senior players walking away.

Wharton was upgraded from being Coyne's assistant, but it wasn't long before another financial collapse saw the Crows revert to amateur in a semi-professional league with two full-time clubs.

Recently, senior squad members such as goalkeeper Gareth Wesson, publicly asked whether Cwmbran had a future.

Caldicot Town and Tredegar Town both completed their Welsh League Division Three fixtures last night.

Already-promoted Caldicot lost 2-0 at home to Caerau Ely while Tredegar's 2-2 draw at Ammanford helped them move up a place to finish 11th of 18.

COLDRICK OUT TO CATCH TOP DOGS

14 May 2007

THE curtain had only been brought down on Newport YMCA's 2006-07 MacWhirter Welsh League campaign for a matter of minutes following a 0-0 home draw against relegated UWIC, when manager Mark Coldrick revealed he's already looking forward to next season.

However, he has every reason to because with Cwmbran Town coming down from the Welsh Premier League and Caldicot Town being promoted from Division Two of the WL, there will be no fewer than five Gwent teams in Division One in 2007-08.

"We're already looking forward to July and pre-season, so bring it on really and let's go again," said Coldrick, who is assisted by Darren Bidgood. "The less travelling the better, obviously, because we've a few lads on shift work and all that helps - plus having that many Gwent clubs will make it far more intense.

"You want to be the top dog in Gwent and credit to Croesyceiliog this year for becoming just that and finishing top of the tree, but we'll be looking to catch them next season."

YMCA began the match with the students at Mendalgief Road knowing they were safe from the drop and that their opponents had been relegated following a 4-0 mid-week defeat at ENTO Aberaman.

But despite there being no pressure, the match was a pretty drab affair and was punctuated only by a couple of fine saves from home goalkeeper Kieron Blackburn and a late, point-blank miss by substitute Faris Yafi.

"It could have gone either way in the end and I suppose it would have been unfair if a team had lost," reflected Coldrick. "This game gave us a great opportunity to get some of our youth-team boys in the squad and Rico Zulkarnain and Mark Greenfield came on the second half and did a fantastic job for us.

"We're always looking to the future and trying to strengthen behind the scenes with the youth structure and the junior section and the future is bright. As far as the first team is concerned, I've told the players we have to put our faults to bed and build on the good things in the summer.

"We've had a few walking wounded for five or six weeks and no doubt they'll be looking forward to a rest and getting a bit of treatment - ready for pre-season, of course."

YMCA finished the season 14th of 19, Caerleon have the chance of coming ninth if they beat Afan Lido at home on Wednesday (ko 6.30pm) while Croesyceiliog were eighth.

Caerleon played on Friday night when they were held to a 1-1 home draw by already-relegated Ely Rangers, with Mark Williams grabbing an equaliser.

"It's been a learning curve this season for us and we're very happy with the position we've achieved," said Caerleon chief Brendan Dowd. "You always look back and think you should have won more games, but in general we're satisfied and it goes without saying that we'll try and better it next season."

Caldicot travelled to face Merthyr Saints locked level on points with promoted rivals Bettws, with the Gwent club having the better goal difference.

However, the issue of who goes up never came down to that scenario because Caldicot won 3-1 while Bettws could only draw 2-2 at Caerau Ely.

"It's been a long, hard season and to be honest I thought we were out of contention about a month ago when Bettws had three games in hand," said Caldicot boss Jason Pritchard, who saw David Lloyd miss a penalty while it was 0-0 before he made up for it by getting on the scoresheet alongside Gareth Cullimore and Mark Williams.

"But Bettws kept losing and we started to pick up points and I'm delighted at the way every player has responded to the challenge.

"But we've an even bigger challenge next season and we'll keep the bulk of the squad we have at the moment."

In Division Three, Aberbargoed Buds finished their debutant campaign in a highly respectable sixth position following a 2-1 home success over Porthcawl Town with both goals coming from Ross Fowler - although Ross Murzczak was straight red-carded.

"It's been a very satisfying first season for us and now we'll hope to build on it," said Buds' assistant manager, John Randall.

But while the Buds celebrate, Chepstow Town must now wait to discover if they are to be relegated back to the Gwent Senior League after finishing second from bottom of the division - despite Saturday's 4-2 home win over Ystradgynlais.

"We've been told unofficially that three teams have applied to come up, but that none will be able to, so it's a case of waiting now for the official verdict," said Chepstow manager Ian Davies. "To be fair, if we do go down then it'll be right because we've finished second bottom. But if there is a chance of us staying up, then that would be great and we'd take it."

CROWS WILL CARRY ON

11 May 2007

CWMBRAN Town have sent a clear "we carry on" message to those of their players worried the cash-strapped club may be folding, writes Terry Daley.

The Crows were recently relegated after finishing rock bottom of the Welsh Premier League, over two years after a financial meltdown proved a catalyst for the club to turn to amateur status in a semi-professional league containing two full-time clubs.

In an exclusive interview with the Argus last week, goalkeeper Gareth Wesson called on the club to confirm its intention one way or another.

With the one-player-one-club rule to be implement across the whole of Welsh football next season, Wesson said he and his team-mates needed to know if they had to make a decision to move on to other clubs.

However Crows secretary Ian Greaney confirmed that the club: 1 Is to continue 2 Is to advertise for a new manager to succeed Sean Wharton, who recently resigned 3 Is to carry on playing at Cwmbran Stadium 4 Is to explore two possible avenues of money-making.

"I can 100 per cent confirm that Cwmbran Town will be carrying on next season," said Greaney.

"We will be soon be advertising the post of manager for what is now our Welsh League side, in local papers and on our website.

"We obviously need to make a quick appointment because there is much for the manager to do during the summer months.

"I'd also like to dispel the rumour which has been doing the rounds in the town that we haven't got a home ground.

"Cwmbran Town will definitely be playing at Cwmbran Stadium in the 2007-08 season and we are not looking for a new home and it's never been our intention to do so.

"Also, we've not made any contact with the local council for a reduction in the rent. However dependant on what's happening in the background at this club, a decision on that will be made as and when.

"In terms of where is the money going to come from, we are looking to go down a couple of avenues.

"There may be two possible sources of income on the table, but I can't disclose either of them at this point.

"As a committee, we are looking now to set out an AGM for the club, so that officers can be elected.

"We are compiling our constitution ready for that AGM in the next two or three weeks.

"We're looking at introducing a membership scheme in order to give people voting rights, so that this club is run fairly for all."

The Crows will start the 2007-08 season in the MacWhirter League Division One alongside Gwent rivals Caerleon, Croesyceiliog, Newport YMCA and possibly Caldicot Town if they gain Division Two promotion.

HEAT OFF YM IN FINAL GAME

11 May 2007 

NEWPORT YMCA are celebrating their Division One safety this week after ENTO Aberaman did them a favour by beating UWIC 4-0 on Wednesday night.

But in reality, UWIC’s fate was already academic.

Had they got an unlikely win in midweek, it would only have given them the remotest of chances of staying up with their visit to YMCA tomorrow.

YMCA chairman Viv Edwards said: “I’m confident we would have beaten UWIC tomorrow, but this now means we can relax and start building for next season.”

Hoping to finish with a flourish and bow out as the league’s top Gwent team, Caerleon have shot up the table in recent weeks.

Entertaining already relegated Ely Rangers tonight (kick-off 6.30pm), Caerleon, with two games to play, are hoping to leapfrog rivals and Gwent Senior Cup winners Croesyceiliog.

The Cwmbran side are currently eighth in the league after completing all their fixtures.

Caerleon chief Brendan Dowd said although he has enjoyed his first year as a manager, he is looking for an improvement from his men next season. “I’m quite pleased, although I think we’ve been consistently inconsistent. I don’t think we’ve done ourselves justice,” he said.

“We need to turn defeats into draws - stupid goals have cost us a point in three or four places.”

Caerleon hope to welcome back midfielder Wayne Jepson, but Daniel Brimfield is unavailable with the club awaiting fitness tests on Martin Phillips and Jason Donovan.

In Division Two, Caldicot’s race for promotion is really hotting up. A win away to lowly Merthyr Saints (to be played at Troedyrhiw FC) tomorrow would be enough to send them into raptures and Division One.

They kept their promotion hopes alive after a thrilling comeback on Wednesday at home to Cambrian & Clydach in a remarkable 6-3 win.

Losing 2-1 in the second half and reduced to ten men after Peter Little was sent off, strikers Jason Thorn and Mark Williams weaved their magic in the pouring rain.

Thorn then scored three more and Williams got a brace as they powered past to win.

Should they fail to win in Merthyr, Caldicot can make sure they are the masters of their own destiny by defeating lowly Caerau Ely at home on Tuesday.

Tredegar Town ensured their safety after a fine 3-1 away win in their relegation clash with Morriston Town last weekend.

Without a game tomorrow, they finish their season away at Ammanford on Tuesday.

Cwmbran Celtic were crowned Division Three champions in midweek when they beat Risca United 2-1 away in their derby to pip other Gwent rivals Llanwern to the title.

In another amazing turnaround, ten-man Celtic were 1-0 down to a Brendan Scott goal with just four minutes remaining.

But they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with goals by Sam Winter and Ben Graham.

“It was a close thing, but we’ve installed into the players to keep going right through until the final whistle and they’ve deserved the title win,” said Celtic coach Della Cheedy.

He, along with player-manager Mickey Copeman, has guided the Celtic to a 24 league match unbeaten run.

Abertillery Excelsiors’ league status should be secure but they are waiting to see if they join likely candidates Chepstow Town in the drop.

Excelsiors lost their final match of the season 4-2 away at Cwmamman United on Wednesday.

Chairman Keith Williams said he thinks his side should be safe but decried the recent laws restricting the movement of players.

“We don’t have enough strength in depth – the one player, one club ruling inflicted on us by FIFA is a joke at grass roots level,” he said.

CHAIRMAN'S JOY AS YM GRAB POINT

7 May 2007

NEWPORT YMCA had to show their never-say-die attitude again at ENTO Aberaman to clinch a point which looks likely to be the one to help them retain their MacWhirter League Division One status.

Only UWIC can now catch YMCA, and even they can only draw level on points, with the Newport side enjoying a superior goal difference.

If UWIC draw or lose at Aberaman on Wednesday, then the relegation issue will be decided. However, if the students win, then it will go down to the final match of the season – on Saturday, when YMCA host none other than UWIC.

“We thoroughly deserved to get a point and indeed, may have won it in the end,” said YMCA chairman Viv Edwards.

“They were 2-0 up after 55 minutes, but our lads simply refused to give up." The spirit the team displayed was extremely commendable and they should be proud of themselves.”

Danny Cueto reduced the arrears following good approach work by right wing-back Jamie Martin before giant central defender Danny Heath equalised by powering in a header at a free kick.

Caerleon, who are safe from the drop, ran out comfortable 2-0 home winners over Pontardawe Town at Cold Bath Lane, where Luke Cueto and Simon Jones struck their goals.

“We played well and in all honesty should have won by a larger margin,” said Caerleon chief Brendan Dowd.

“I made some changes after our mid-week defeat (1-0 at Croesyceiliog) and it worked out well for us. We’ve improved over recent games after bringing in such players as Danny Brimfield, Jason Donovan and Matthew Hearn, and we carried that form into this match.”

Caerleon are next in action on Friday when they travel to face already-relegated Ely Rangers, kick-off 6.30pm.

Promotion-seeking Caldicot Town have a massive game on Wednesday when they entertain already-promoted Cambrian and Clydach at Jubilee Way, kick-off 6.30pm.

Caldicot could only draw 2-2 at home with West End on Saturday, but still hold the third and final Division Two promotion spot.

They have three games remaining, while nearest challengers Bettws have just two. The clubs both have 61 points, but the Gwent outfit has a far better goal difference.

“A point each was about the right result because it could have gone either way,” revealed Caldicot boss Jason Pritchard, who admitted the whole club is feeling the pressure.

“The players, me, the committee and the fans – everyone is feeling it and I think I’ve aged 20 years in the past few months!

“But I’d rather be in this position of knowing we must win two of our last three games to go up than being in a mid-table position and playing for nothing.

“ It’s down to us now.”

Caldicot led through a David Lloyd goal, but had to wait for Mark Williams’ 75th-minute leveller before claiming the point.

Tredegar Town are safe and continued their climb away from the relegation zone, their 3-0 away win over already-doomed Morriston Town moving them up to 12th of 17.

“I’m delighted that we’re staying up and every player deserves a big pat on the back,” said Tredegar manager Jason Morgan, who saw Richard Langley, Nathan Cowdell and Lee Brooker grab his side’s goals.

“It’s been a long, hard season for us, but we’ve got there in the end and I’m really pleased for everyone.”

All roads lead to Risca United’s Ty-Isaf Park home on Wednesday, when Gwent rivals Cwmbran Celtic will seek to win the Division Three championship trophy, kick-off 6.30pm.

Anything less and the title will go to current leaders Llanwern, who completed their fixtures with a 3-2 home success over Ystradgynlais.

Llanwern took a 3-0 lead through goals by Steve Perszewski (2) and Marcus Power before a trio of substations upset the balance enough to allow the visitors to reduce the deficit.

However, manager Laurence Owen’s men held out to record their 20th win in 32 league outings.

“If the Celtic win at Risca, then they take the title and good on them,” said Owen. “It will mean they’ll be the best team in the division because they’ll have finished top.

“But we’re already promoted and I don’t mind much if it’s for being first, second or third.”

Celtic drew 1-1 at Llangeinor thanks to a well-struck free kick by skipper and central defender Mark Parfitt.

However, it wasn’t all good news because they had midfielder Craig Cheedy sent off, although officials were mystified as to why an opponent was only booked in the same incident.

“They both retaliated and both should have been dismissed,” said Celtic secretary Malcolm Jarrett.

“Perhaps had we 11 men on the pitch, we may have gone on to win. But we were playing up a slope and it was a bit like the Alamo in the second half, although we held on.”

Abertillery Excelsiors lost 2-0 at Llantwit Fardre and it would appear that the Gwent club will be safe for another season.

With Gwynfi United already having dropped out of the league, it seems likely that only two will be relegated.

That means Abertillery are certain of staying up, and if no team comes up from the Gwent County Division One, Chepstow Town may also be saved from the drop.

CROESY'S CUP REVENGE

Gwent Senior Cup Final

Croesyceiliog 3 - 1 Cwmbran Town

CROESYCEILIOG returned to Abergavenny Thursdays' Penypound Stadium to gain revenge over the Crows for last year's Gwent Senior Cup final defeat at the venue.

This was an incident-packed encounter between town rivals, and with matters simmering at gas mark 99, it was no surprise that it spilled over into flashpoints before and after the interval.

Referee Andrew Murdock was kept busy, dishing out three red cards and seven yellows on a day when pure football often took a back seat.

Unsavoury incident number one came on 21 minutes, when players from both sides clashed following a tackle by Croesyceiliog's Chris Watkins on Crows left back Gareth Mouncher.

The pair were both booked, as were Cwmbran's Gareth Wysome and Geraint Goodridge, who appeared lucky to survive after apparently throwing a punch in the ensuing mêlée.

The second bust-up, and this time there was no denying Goodridge's guilt, came seven minutes from time, when he kicked Michael Pattimore with the Croesyceiliog player on the ground following the pair's touchline tussle.

Goodridge's team-mate Shane Dawe was also dismissed, for two bookable offences within the space of three second-half minutes, while Pattimore's brother, Gareth, was red-carded for dissent.

There were several other niggly incidents and all this overshadowed what was an interesting contest played out on a sun-kissed afternoon.

Despite carving out the better chances and leading through a Goodridge header at a Dawe corner, Cwmbran saw a lot less of the ball before the break.

Croesyceiliog, who also included the Jenkins brothers, Jamie, Jody and Daniel, knocked the ball about in some style - although Cwmbran were generally happy to see their opponents do so in non-dangerous areas.

Striker Jody Jenkins fired wide of a post with seconds of the second period starting before we arrived at what many believe to be the game's turning-point.

Crows marksman Martin Houston side-stepped his way past goalkeeper Pat O'Hagan before inexplicably missing an unguarded goal by hitting his shot past an upright.

Doubling their advantage at that stage would almost certainly have led to a Cwmbran win, but you could see Croesyceiliog being visibly lifted by Houston's howler.

Just five minutes later central defender Mike Dewar had equalised with a fine header, and soon striker Mark Jones had the Woodland Road outfit ahead for the first time after Jamie Jenkins had headed down a Michael Pattimore free kick.

Jody Jenkins weaved his way past two would-be tacklers before seeing his goal-bound shot brilliantly saved one-handed by Crows goalkeeper Gareth Wesson, but shortly before the final whistle Jamie Jenkins swept home following a cross from younger sibling Danny.

There was no denying the winners were deserving victors, although the battling Crows played their part in an absorbing struggle.

Croesyceiliog: P O'Hagan (c), C Watkins, Ja Jenkins, M Pattimore, M Dewar, R Coff, G Pattimore, D Evans, Jo Jenkins (J Lewis 76), M Jones (C Pritchard 80), D Jenkins. Subs not used: R Bristow, L Mason. Booked: G Pattimore (21), Watkins (21). Sent off: G Pattimore (81). Goals: Dewar (53), Jones (76), Ja Jenkins (89).

Cwmbran Town: G Wesson (c), L Sallis, G Mouncher, R Williams, G Wysome, S Dawe, B Evans (R Patel 82), G Goodridge, M Houston, K Hanbury, S Prangley (L Newman 64). Booked: Wysome (21), Goodridge (21), Mouncher (30), Dawe (71 and 74). Sent off: Dawe (74), Goodridge (83). Goal: Goodridge (13).

Referee: A Murdoch (Newport).

YMCA THREE POINTS FROM SAFETY

4 May 2007

NEWPORT YMCA will be going all out for the three points they need to guarantee their Division One safety when they travel to sixth-placed ENTO Aberaman Athletic tomorrow.

YM lost in midweek at home to Maesteg Park when they squandered a 2-0 lead.

Chairman Viv Edwards said: “They had three chances - after their keeper made long punts upfield - and scored from each one.

“We had a multitude of chances but they made us suffer.

“We will be going for the win tomorrow and our players naturally want to go forward.”

If YMCA fail to get at least a point, it could set them up for a humdinger against UWIC next Saturday, who are also desperately fighting for survival.

Caerleon are safe thanks to an excellent 3-0 away win at Taffs Well last Saturday.

But they came back down to earth again after losing their Gwent derby with Croesyceiliog 1-0 on Tuesday.

Caerleon should be boosted for tomorrow’s home game with Pontardawe Town by the return of Ben Davies, Jason Donovan and Daniel Brimfield.

But they miss Chris Pearce who sits out two games after being sent off against Croesyceiliog.

Caerleon manager Brendan Dowd said: “We’re hoping to finish the season on a high and get the full nine points from our last three games to get as far up the table as we can.”

Croesyceiliog have finished their league campaign, enjoying a fine first season in Division One.

They look favourites to finish as Gwent’s top side, now seven points clear of Caerleon.

Croesyceiliog now look forward to ending the season on another high when they meet Cwmbran in the final of the Gwent Senior Cup tomorrow.

In Division Two, Caldicot Town are still very much on track in their promotion race.

They got an impressive away draw at Garw Athletic who became champions after they got that point last Saturday.

Caldicot have a vital home game against West End tomorrow who are also chasing promotion.

Tredegar Town have enjoyed a good week in their relegation fight.

Last week they got a point away after a 2-2 draw against West End.

Then on Wednesday, they hammered fellow strugglers Penrhiwceiber Rangers at home 4-1.

There is sure to be an interesting basement battle when they travel to second from bottom Morriston Town tomorrow.

In Division Three, Cwmbran Celtic could be crowned champions if they win their match.

But they face a tricky away game at third-placed Llangeinor who are also in contention to win the league, just three points behind. Both will have one more game to play after Saturday.

Meanwhile second-placed Llanwern, just a point behind Celtic, are hoping to keep the pressure on them by beating Ystradgynlais at home in their final match.

At the opposite end of the table, Chepstow Town seem doomed to be relegated to the Gwent County First Division despite winning 2-0 against bottom club AFC Porth last week.

The club is almost certain to go down but is awaiting confirmation from the league to see if at least two clubs are relegated.

They cannot finish higher than second from bottom with one game left to play.

Abertillery Excelsiors may have saved their season with a thumping 6-2 home win over Newcastle Emlyn last weekend.

Although they are still haunted by the threat of relegation, an away win against Llantwit Fadre could be enough to guarantee their safety.

Risca United’s fine 3-1 win at Ystradgynlais last Saturday and their 1-1 draw at Llangeinor in midweek means they can look forward to another season in Division Three.