Match Day 6 is here already and we have two Friday evening games in the South East to look forward to and kick off our weekend. Croesyceiliog host Abercarn United, at Woodland Road, kick off 6.30pm, while Abergavenny Town face Goytre at Pen-Y-Pound Stadium, kick off is 7.45pm.

Croesyceiliog will be looking for their first Ardal win since the opening day of the season when they beat Caldicot Town 5-0. Since then they have suffered defeats against Canton, Blaenavon Blues and Risca United before the 2-2 draw last saturday at Newport Corinthians, the first ever Ardal game hosted at Coronation Park. Croesyceiliog had a great start when Zach Osborne opened the scoring after 16 minutes, only the second game he has scored an Ardal goal, the first being a hattrick against Caldicot in May 2023. He now has 4 goals in 5 games at this level for the former Cwmbran Celtic striker. The second half though saw the home side strike back, equalising on 63 minutes before going ahead on 71 minutes from the penalty spot. However Manager Paul Brown was not giving up and on 90 minutes substitute Alex Bull found the net to earn Croesyceiliog a 2-2 draw. Abercarn meanwhile will be looking for a win to improve on their promising start, with two draws and a defeat so far this season. They have had creditable draws against Newport Corinthians and Abergavenny, beaten Treharris Athletic Western, but last Saturday brought a disappointing defeat at home to Treowen Stars, who went to the top of the table as a result. Abercarn lost the match in the first half, when they found themselves 3-0 down at the interval, but it wasn’t to be much better in the second half, conceding a fourth before a 59th minute goal from Aaryn Campbell after good work from Alex Adams gave brief hope. It wasn’t to be though as two further goals from the visitors brought an emphatic final scoreline of 6-1.

The other game on Friday is at Abergavenny who host near neighbours Goytre. With only a point separating the teams between 6th and 7th places, Abergavenny will be looking to leapfrog the visitors and build on their one win so far this season last Saturday at Treharris Athletic Western. This followed three opening draws to the season against Canton, Risca and Abercarn. It was not the best of starts last Saturday though as the home side took a 8th minute lead, scoring a retaken penalty after goalkeeper Ashley Morris was judged to have moved to early to save the first effort. However on 15 minutes Abergavenny were level, Rhys Tandy supplying the assist for Mason Keepin-Davies to open his Ardal account following goals in the JD Welsh Cup and FAW Trophy for the former Caerleon striker. Almost on the half hour mark he had doubled his tally to make it 2-1 at the interval. The second half saw Treharris battle to get back into the game but the Abergavenny defence were starting to show a wall of steel and there was no way back, when Dylan Owen-Davies made it 3-1 after 71 minutes to seal the three points for the visitors. Goytre will be looking to add their third win of the Ardal Season, after the other two games ended in a draw and defeat. A week ago they faced Undy at Plough Road and battled to a 2-2 draw despite having a dream start, going a goal up in the first minute through Jac Evans and then Bradley Hanbury scoring a second on 26 minutes. However Undy fought back with goals after 42 minutes and 82 minutes. Goytre Manager Jason Murphy, will be looking at avoiding defeat at least with a clean sheet in the Ardal Southern for the first time this season.

Saturday sees six games in the South East, all kicking off at 2.30pm. Starting at the Causeway, Undy face Brecon Corries, with the home side looking at improving on their 13th place, winning just one game, drawing one and losing two so far, while Brecon look to improve on their 3rd place and unbeaten start to the season with three wins out of four.
Last time out, a week last Friday, Undy salvaged a draw at Goytre scoring a 82nd minute equaliser through substitute Kieran Harris, after good work by captain Daniel Morgan. This followed an early goal in the first half by 20 year old Lovelle Barrett, signed in the summer from Risca United and assisted by 17 year old Jacob Croft, by which time Undy were 2-0 down however. Undy Manager Lewis Thomas will be looking for more fighting spirit on what promises to be a tough tie against the high flying visitors. Brecon Manager Damien Daniels has built on last seasons 7th place finish and they were excellent last Saturday comprehensively beating Caldicot Town at the Rich Field. Craig Evans opened the scoring after just 9 minutes assisted by Joel Evans and it was soon the turn of Joel to turn goalscorer after 15 minutes, when Corey Evans provided an assist. Caldicot briefly threatened to get back in the game when they scored a 20th minute penalty, but two goals in the second half shortly before the hour mark killed the game off. Firstly Jack Biggs scored after 57 minutes after great work from Craig Evans and two minutes later it was Evans himself who found the net for his second of the game. Brecon then used the opportunity to give game time to their bench, all five substitutes coming on in two breaks of play in the 63rd and 71st minutes. The final score ended Brecon 4 Caldicot 1.

Caldicot Town take on Canton at Jubilee Way, the home side in 9th place and the visitors sitting in 4th place. Caldicot recovered well following their 5-0 loss at Croesyceiliog to kick start the season, winning tough away games at Chepstow and Undy, but last Saturday against Brecon at the Rich Field, their recovery unraveled with a 4-1 defeat, Sam Swann giving hope with a 20th minute penalty to make it 2-1, but two second half goals gave the home side a comfortable win. 17 year old Ethan Bowles will be hoping for another chance to stake a claim, after a full debut against Canton. The visitors meanwhile lost 3-0 last Saturday at Treowen Stars to dent their unbeaten record in the league of four games made up of three wins and a draw. Despite Treowen looking at hitting form at the right time, it was the first time Canton had failed to score in five games since their 0-0 opener at Abergavenny Town. It was also the first game that Wales Regions Squad player Suleimane Susso had conceded, after three clean sheets in his opening games this season. Manager Dan Tanhai and his assistant Dale Gardiner will be looking for a reaction, after substitute Andre Phillips was straight red carded after 76 minutes, after seconds earlier receiving a caution. Substitutes last week Tyrrell Webbe, Norton Ferreira and Isaac Wigley, will all be pressing for a recall for the game, as Canton need to find a few goals to kick start their promising start to life in the South East after their surprise move in the summer from the South West.

League leaders Treowen Stars have a home game at Bush Park against Treharris Athletic Western. The Stars have had a 100% record since their shock opening defeat at Brecon and JD Welsh Cup shocker at Llangeinor. Wins against Blaenavon Blues, Newport Corinthians, Abercarn and Canton, have propelled Treowen into pole position in the league, as they look to finally launch a promotion push this season after threatening but falling away in each of the last three seasons. Manager Ben Murphy has a proven track record at this level with Abertillery Bluebirds and last Saturday against Canton, they produced their most polished performance of the season to ease to a 3-0 thanks to goals from Corey Jenkins, Carter Campbell and ex Cardiff City Academy player Chris Hartland, who has now scored 4 in 4 games since his return from Goytre. Treharris on the other hand have had a disappointing time of late despite their excellent start to the season, when they beat Risca 1-0. Last Saturday, Saul Tanhai gave them a great start at Parc Taf Bargoed, scoring with a retaken penalty after seeing his first penalty saved but the keeper had moved early. However Abergavenny soon bounced back and ended up scoring three times, for a comprehensive 3-1 victory. Manager Dean Raven, will have to produce a rabbit out of the hat to combat Treowen, but after last season’s great escape against Newport City, anything is possible for the ex St Jospeh’s striker who took the reins following the resignation of Nana Baah in the summer of 2023. Captain Matthew Sellick will be looking at marshaling their defence, using all of his experience gained over 85 Ardal Southern games.

Tredegar Town face Blaenavon Blues in a bottom basement battle, the home side rock bottom after four straight defeats while the visitors are 3 points better off in 15th place after one win this season. Tredegar have lost to Abertillery Bluebirds, Undy, Brecon and Canton to date, although only the first game gave them no hope of earning anything out of the game. They have been competitive in all the other games, including last Saturdays 2-0 defeat at home to Canton. Tredegar will be relying on goals from veteran striker Ian Pettit again this season, but will be desperate that fellow forwards Dafydd Jones, Tye Duggan and Connor Evans can find the net sooner rather than later, to fire Tredegar up the table. The Blues meanwhile are desperately missing the goals of Chris Ham who has returned to Goytre, after he fired 17 Ardal League goals for the Blues last season, as well as his 9 goals at Goytre. Last Saturday Blaenavon suffered a disappointing 2-0 home defeat against Chepstow Town at the Leisure Centre and will be looking to Matthew Burns to add to his only goal this season against Treowen, after he hit 11 in 27 games last season. A lot will be expected of goalkeeper Luca Bullock who signed mid-way through last season from Goytre and despite conceding six on his debut against Newport City, managed 4 clean sheets in his next 16 league games.

There should be plenty of goals on display at Larkfield Park as Chepstow Town host Risca United. The home side have scored 16 in the league so far while the visitors have conceded 13, as 5th place host 12th in the table. Chepstow have plenty of goals in their side as they showed on the opening day when they put 11 past Undy, and in top scorer Adam Wakley they have a player in form with 6 goals in 6 league and cup games this season. The rest of the forward line are teenagers, with what they lack in experience, they make up with enthusiasm. Ellis Quarterly and Mallachi Graham are only 19 and Manager Marc Ingles is pinning his hopes of a blend of youth and experience this season. Last Saturday produced the perfect performance for Chepstow, a 2-0 win at Blaenavon Blues, Quarterly and Wakely on the scoresheet after two assists from Graham. Risca United travel to Chepstow with a massive rebuild on their hands after changing managers last season. They are a work in progress so far with some promising displays in winning at Croesyceiliog and a draw at Abergavenny a tough place to go, but have suffered at the hands of Treharris and last Saturday Abertillery Bluebirds. Risca found themselves all square after 21 minutes after equalising the Bluebirds early goal, through a Cole Greenhaf goal. However they then found themselves 3-1 down at the interval. The second half hardly got any better and by the time an own goal had given Risca their second of the game, the scoreline read 8-2.

Our final game in the South East sees the league top scorers Abertillery Bluebirds play host to Newport Corinthians at Cwm Nant Y Groes. The home side will certainly be looking forward to goals galore after their 8-2 away win at Risca last Saturday. Ben Taylor stood out with a hattrick and was supported by Tom Beynon who scored twice, a Iwan John penalty and a double from substitute Ryan Meredith, who now has 3 goals to his name after coming on as substitute in each of the four games he has been available for this season, after 5 goals in 29 games last season in the Cymru South. Goalkeeper Brandon Powell although he has only had one clean sheet in five games, will be looking to start earning some shut outs after signing from Blaenavon Blues at the turn of the year. Newport Corinthians in their first season at this level, will prove to be a tough opponents though as they sit nicely in 10th place, with a win and two draws out of their first four games. Only Treowen have given them the runaround with a 3-0 home win and last Saturday, they earned a 2-2 draw against Croesyceiliog in their first ever home game at Tier 3 level at Coronation Park. The Corries found themselves a goal down at the break, but fought back to score after 63 and 71 minutes, through Sam Beckett and Jake Clark from the spot. However the visitors broke the hearts of the home support with an 90th minute equaliser. Manager Ben Davies will be looking at a much improved performance in what could well prove to be their toughest game to date at Ardal level.