TWO first half goals secured a 2-1 win for hosts Chepstow Town over Abergavenny to go top of the Ardal South East League on goal difference.

Christian O'Donnell fired the Jockeys in front after just five minutes at Larkfield Road following an assist from Mallachi Graham.

An Aber wins an aerial battle at Chepstow
An Aber player wins an aerial battle at Chepstow. Photo: Stephen Brotherwood (Stephen Brotherwood)

And Graham again set up Adam Wakley to double the lead 10 minutes before half-time.

That's how it stayed until six minutes into stoppage time when the Pennies' Zach Duke cut the deficit, but it was too little too late to prevent the hosts taking all three points to leapfrog Treowen Stars, who didn't play on Saturday, at the top of the table.

A Chepstow player wins the race for the ball
A Chepstow player wins the race for the ball. Photo: Stephen Brotherwood (Stephen Brotherwood)

But Chepstow’s mid-table 2nds came a cropper 8-1 at South East Reserves league leaders Cwmbran Celtic, Matthew Owen scoring their only goal to pull it back to 2-1 14 minutes in before the floodgates opened.

And the 3rd lost out 7-3 at high-flying Caldicot Castle in East Gwent One, Peter Scarfi and Tom Collins among their scorers.

Elsewhere, Usk Town made a flying start to 2025 winning 4-1 at top-five Pontnewydd United to pull five points clear of the Gwent Premier 2 drop zone.

A Louis Quinton penalty put them 1-0 up on 25 minutes before he struck again 11 minutes later to double the lead.

Pont pulled one back within two minutes, but Gene Gurie made it 3-1 at the break deep in first half stoppage time.

Pont's first team manager was sent off early in the second period, followed by a player for a second yellow, and Usk compounded the hosts' misery by forcing an own goal five minutes from time.

Thornwell R&W had to settle for a point in a 1-1 draw at second from bottom Riverside, Owen Badham with a 55th-minute leveller from the spot.

But Usk 2nds made a it a good day for the Green Army, drawing 3-3 at home to top-half Pontnewynydd 2nds in Gwent Central 2, after coming back from 3-1 down thanks to goals from Tomas Prosser (68) and Scott Thomas (82) following the latter's 27th-minute opener.

Table toppers Glascoed marched on with a 4-3 win at home to Mardy 2nds, Matthew Cameron firing two (52, 84) and Nathan Thomas (39) and Dawson Stubbs 64) one apiece.

Redbrook Rovers won 4-0 away to Lydbrook 2nds to go third in North Gloucestershire One, Ieuan Frost with a brace backed by strikes from Dan Heaven and Lewis Tyler.

But the 2nds lost out 4-2 away to Mitcheldean 2nds in NG2, Jayden Makondora and Ralph Heaven-Richards their marksmen.

Fellow Wyesiders Tintern Abbey won a tight East Gwent 2 basement battle 1-0 at home to Caldicot Castle 2nds though, Ryan Meredith with the only goal as both sides missed second half penalties.

Fixtures this Saturday (January 25) include – AFC Llwydcoed v Chepstow Town, Chepstow Town 2nds v Undy 2nds, Crickhowell v Usk Town, Chepstow Town 3rds v Sudbrook CC, Thornwell R&W 2nds v Caldicot 3rds, Caldicot Castle 2nds v Tintern Abbey, Rockfield Rovers v Portskewett & Sudbrook, Redbrook 2nds v English Bicknor 2nds.