THORNWELL Red & White's league status is hanging by a very slender thread after losing 5-0 at West of St Julians on Saturday.

Firmly rooted at the bottom of Division 3, they need to win their last two games – at home to Nantyglo (April 18th) and away to fellow strugglers Race (April 25th) – and hope the clubs above them also lose their remaining games, if they are to play in the Gwent County League next season.

The club has 17 points from 28 games and an inferior goal difference to their rivals.

Six points would see them leap up to 12th place and 23 points but they would have to hope that the three clubs above them failed to win any of their remaining games.

Caldicot Castle also lost at the weekend, 2-0 at leaders Cwm in a match that Castle manager Dave Adamson said was ruined by poor refereeing.

"My teams did well but, unfortunately, the game was ruined by an inexperienced ref who was clearly out of his depth," he said.

"I don't normally go too over the top with blaming refs as it's an amateur game and we all make mistakes but this was clearly down to him.

"We knew Cwm would play 4-3-3 so we matched them up and the first half was pretty even with the better chance probably falling to us.

"Then just before half time the ref inexplicably sent off Grant Avery.

"Grant was actually trying to defend himself as four Cwm players were pushing him and trying to attack him," he alleged.

"Swayed by the home crowd the ref gave him a red.

"Five minutes after the restart, the ref gave Craig McCluskey a second yellow card, again completely influenced by the home team and their crowd.

"Down to nine men against the league leaders isn't ideal, but the boys were magnificent, as they had been all game and were only beaten by a deflected long-range effort and a penalty.

"After the game both sets of players and management agreed the game was even and unfortunately ruined by the comedy dismissals.

"We regroup now and after our tough midweek game at Ponthir we have home games where we must take at least six points to ensure we don't finish in the bottom four."