Newport YMCA 2 Croesyceiliog 1

Croesyceiliog's three match unbeaten run came to a end away to Newport YMCA on Saturday.
Croesy came into the game on the back of picking up seven points out of the previous nine on offer but they didn't improve that tally as Newport YMCA deservedly picked up the points.However a little bit later in the afternoon came the good news that relegation rivals Maesteg Park had lost again meaning Croesy maintain their ten point lead over Maesteg,and although Maesteg have three games in hand out of their last seven games they need to pick up eleven points to overtake Croesy,providing Croesy fail to pick up any points in their remaining four games so its not all doom and gloom,and to a extent Pontardawe Town need to pick up points in their games in hand to avoid getting dragged into the relegation scrap.
On to the game itself,Croesy never really recovered from a sluggish start and without poor finishing from the home side, the home side could off been well out of sight before Mike Dewar gave Croesy a slight hope with only three minutes remaining of the game.YMCA should of been in front after only six minutes from a counter attack, Jamie Jenkins free kick twenty-five yards from the YMCA goal hit the defensive wall and from the break,Faris Yafai cross was met by Aaron Stewart who somehow managed to head over John Bailey's crossbar from inside the six yard box. Croesy's reprieve didn't last long however as the hosts were in front on ten minutes,Gareth Wesson's long free kick down field was headed back across the penalty area by Daniel Heath and the ball struck Mike Dewar's arm and the referee pointed straight to the spot,and from the resulting penalty kick Gareth Lynch gave Bailey no chance.John Bailey then denied Yafai with a good save and shortly after Yafai shot wide from twenty yards out.Croesy though they had level the scores on twenty-one minutes when following a free kick Ricky Coffe slotted past Wesson but the assistant referee raised his flag to give offside against Coffe,although it did seem a tight decision.
Croesy at times were their own worst enemies as they gave the ball away time and time again and on the half hour mark Stewart fired just wide for YMCA after the ball was needlessly given away in midfield.Croesy nearly scored just four minutes later Callum Miles found Jenkins on the right and his cross to the far post was met by Nicky McGrath and his volley beat Wesson but rebounded back of the post and hit Mark Jones before going wide for a goal kick.Ricky Coffe then had to be alert to deny Stewart clearing his effort of the line from Robert Wigmore's corner.Newport YMCA scored the crucial second goal three minutes before the break,again the ball was given away cheaply and as YM attacked in numbers,John Pardue's initial shot was well saved by Bailey but Daniel Cueto was on hand to put the home side two nil up.
Newport YMCA started the second half brightly and thankfully for Croesy,McGrath was on hand to clear Pardue's effort of the line after Pardue done well to firstly corner the ball from a Criag Ford cross and then fire goal wards.John Bailey pulled of a fine save eleven minutes before time,as he denied Yafai with a close range diving header after he met Cueto's cross.Croesy scored a consolation goal near the end as Coffe put the ball over the top of the defence for sub Adie Pearce and his cross found Dewar who scored from twelve yards out.Croesy thought they had rescued a point two minutes into injury time when Wesson done well at his near post to deny McGrath.
So up next on Wednesday evening is a home game against Goytre United who currently sit second,just three points of the top but have two games in hand over leaders Ton Pentre,but with Maesteg also in action(away to Bryntirion),Croesy will look to either extend the difference between them and Maesteg or if not at least maintain the difference.