Gwent County League Division Two - Mathern FC 0 Ynysddu FC 2

SEVEN days after a deserved 2-0 victory over leaders RTB Ebbw Vale, Mathern welcomed another promotion-chasing side, Ynysddu, to their picturesque ground.

But the home side started slowly and nervously, according to manager Colin Jeffery.

“There was no pattern to the early play and no chances on goal until a defensive misunderstanding put the visitors ahead with a tap-in,” he said.

“We never really got into our stride but Ynysddu were a well-organised outfit with good shape.

“A goal down at half time, I sent on three substitutes, all attacking players, and changed our formation to 3-5-2 in an attempt to at least score an equaliser.

“This seemed to bring more urgency to our play and we came back into it with several goalmouth scrambles but no final product.

“Then, a few minutes from the end, and against the run of play, another defensive mistake gave Ynysddu another close-range finish.

“I was very disappointed with the game. We need to improve our concentration, game management and our general will to win.”

“This was not our usual good footballing performance and we probably deserved to get nothing out of the game although we were the stronger team in the second half. “Our aim now is to finish the season well and start to build for a title shot next season.”

Currently sixth in the table, Mathern still have seven matches to play and their first midweek match tonight (Wednesday 30th March) is at home to ninth-placed Cromwell. Kick-off is at 6pm.