Monmouthshire Windows East Gwent League Division 1

A SURPRISING number of matches survived the stormy weather with two of the top three winning on the road.

Caldicot Castle A visited bottom club Tintern Abbey with a depleted squad and came away with a 7-1 victory.

“We turned up with only two subs one with an injury and one with a hangover,” Castle’s player-manager said later.

“We started without a striker and loaded the side with midfield players but we started well with goals from Rick Woodland, Jake Withey who scored two identical goals from Sean Johnson’s corners and a Steve Edwards goal and we led 4-1 at the break.

“It was a bit scrappy in the second half and Tintern had a player sent off for repeated fouls which on other days may have seen straight reds.

“A Steve Edwards free-kick had Tintern in all sorts of trouble and a  defender put the ball in his own net, attempting a clearance.

“Steve is claiming the goal and I’m sure the defender won’t argue with that.

“Rick got his second and I came off the bench for a goal too, but the goal of the game belonged to Tintern.

“A 40-yard half volley left Dave Hayward in no-man’s-land with the ball going straight into the goal. “I was happy with a very impressive display from the boys.

“Sean Marsh impressed on the left and Jake Withey did the same down the right while Matt Kinchin had a great game in midfield and Sean Johnson’s passing was splitting the Tintern defence all game.

“The boys should be proud of their performance and the plus six improvement to our goal difference.”

Bob Cypher