CALDICOT TOWN AFC

 Caldicot Town U18's are back for season 2010-11 and managed by Darren Canty and assisted by James Davis and Phil Watts

Lastest League Standings 

 Match Reports:

Gwent County under 18 League

Caldicot Town 5 v Rogerstone 4

(Caldicot scorers: Jamie Watts 3, Jordan Thomas, Tom Atkins)

Caldicot Town Under18’s just edged a thrilling nine goal encounter with Rogerstone at Jubilee Way. The teams who had drawn 5-5 a couple of weeks earlier both showed their attacking intentions early on. Within a minute of the start Jamie Watts beat the visiting keeper to the ball to slot home the opening goal. Within five minutes the visitors were level when the referee allowed a goal to stand which looked an easy offside decision. The game continued to flow end to end but it was Town who pulled ahead when Jamie Watts added two goals in quick succession to complete his hat trick inside the first twenty minutes. Rogerstone then pulled another goal back only for Jordan Thomas to head home from close range after a corner had been flicked on to make it 4-2. Rogerstone then got their third on the stroke of half time.

The second half saw both sides continue to attack without adding to the score line until a Tom Atkins goal ten minutes from time gave Town a two goal cushion again. With Caldicot looking to see the game out the visitors took advantage of one of the numerous free kicks they were being awarded around the box to make it 5-4 with three minutes to play. Despite more pressure and an unexplained 5 minutes of stoppage time Town held out for the win.

The under 18’s now face Race away at the weekend for their penultimate game of the season.

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Gwent County U18 League

 Rogerstone 5 v Caldicot Town 5

 (Caldicot scorers: Kyle McCabe 2, Callum Trigg, Ben Smith, Jamie Watts.)

A very warm afternoon combined with a small, bumpy pitch led to a game that lacked quality and only a very late equaliser salvaged a point for Caldicot after they had squandered a 3-0 half time lead.

 Town looked set for a good afternoon when they took advantage of some poor defending by the home team to score three times in the first half hour with goals from Kyle McCabe 2 and Callum Trigg.

 The first five minutes of the second period saw some shocking defending from Caldicot which gift wrapped two goals to the home team to put them right back into a game. With their tails up Rogerstone took control of the game and it was no surprise when they added two further goals in quick succession mid way through the half which saw them take a 4-3 lead.

With 15 minutes left Town found themselves back on level terms when Ben Smith scored from close range. Town then pressed for a winner and had three glorious chances to go back in front but they all went begging. Then with just five minutes left Caldicot were hit by the sucker punch when Rogerstone broke away and went ahead again. With stoppage time almost up Town grabbed a late equaliser when Jamie Watts beat three defenders to the ball to net and level the scores again.

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Gwent County Youth Cup

 Ebbw Vale 3 - 1 Caldicot Town(Ben Smith)

Caldicot Town U18's went out of the county youth cup at the quarter final stage

despite a spirited display against the tournament favourites at the impressive 

Eugene Cross Park. Town had held their own until the half hour mark when 

Ebbw Vale took the lead with a fortunate goal. Looking a long way offside their 

centre forward kept going with the Town defence desperately appealing and managed 

to get his head to the ball which looped over  the advancing Ben Davidson and in 

off the underside of the bar. Just before the break Caldicot thought they had 

equalised when Jordan Thomas headed in at the far post but was ruled offside.

The second half was an even affair but two goals in quick succession mid way 

through the half gave Ebbw Vale a flattering 3-0 lead. Town kept plugging away 

and ten minutes from the end Ben Smith netted from close range to pull a goal back.

 The final ten minutes saw Town pressing but they were unable to break down 

the home defence again. At the final whistle both sides received applause for an 

excellent cup tie in which both sides fully played their part.

 Caldicot's game at Jubilee on Sunday was called off at the last minute when the 

match referee deemed the pitch at New Tredegar unsafe to play on. It must be 

said that the pitch and surroundings were not up to the required standard of the 

Gwent County League. Next week Town travel to bottom club Rogerstone.

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Gwent County U18 League Cup

Second Leg

Caldicot Town 3 (8) v Mardy 4 (6)

(Caldicot Scorers: Tom Atkins 2, Aled Eynon)

Caldicot Town U18’s progressed to the last eight of the County Cup winning 8-6 on aggregate over Mardy after a dramatic finish to the match under lights at Jubilee Way on Thursday evening.

Leading 5-2 from the first leg Town were put under early pressure by an in form Mardy side. The scores remained level until late in the first half when Mardy scored two quick goals to reduce the aggregate to 5-4.

Early in the second period Mardy netted a third to draw level overall and then with 15 minutes left added a fourth to go in front. Town looked down and out until 10 minutes from time they were awarded a penalty for hand ball, Tom Atkins made no mistake from the spot and suddenly the game was back on. At this stage Mardy were still going through on the away goals rule and with the clock rapidly running down it looked as Caldicot were going out. With a minute remaining Town were awarded a free kick centrally, a yard inside their own half. From fully sixty yards Aled Eynon drove a fantastic free kick through a packed box and into the roof of the net much to the delight of a large Caldicot following. Town were now ahead again. From the restart Mardy pushed forward but were caught on the break when Tom Atkins powered in from the right and beat the keeper with a low drive to seal a remarkable come back and face a tough away Quarter Final tie with Ebbw Vale next Friday (8^th April).

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Gwent County U18 League

Mardy 4 v Caldicot Town 1

(Caldicot scorer - Kyle McCabe)

Caldicot Town’s under 18’s continued their dismal away form with a defeat to a very average Mardy side.

An even first half ended badly for Town when they conceded two very poor goals, both due to basic defensive errors, in the last ten minutes of the half.

Caldicot began the second half brightly and dominated the game creating chances which were not taken with the Mardy goal leading a charmed life. Then with 20 minutes remaining the home side dealt the sucker punch by scoring on the break, again down to a basic defensive mistake. Town continued to play their football and eventually pulled a goal back when Kyle McCabe fired home from the edge of the box with ten minutes left. As Caldicot pushed forward to try to reduce the deficit further Mardy broke out and finished the game with a fourth goal.

Perhaps the score line was harsh on Town and didn’t truly reflect the game but until they learn the fundamentals of defending then they will always be open to this kind of result.

There is a quick chance to avenge this defeat when the two sides meet again in the 2^nd leg of the County Cup on Thursday 31^st March at Jubilee Way. Caldicot lead 5-2 after the first leg. 

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Gwent County U18 League

Tredegar 5 v Caldicot Town 4

(Caldicot scorers: Tom Atkins 2, Ben Smith 2)

Caldicot’s recent impressive run came to an end at Tredegar with a below par performance in a game badly affected by the conditions.

On a very heavy pitch with a strong wind and driving rain at their backs Caldicot raced into a three goal lead with goals from Tom Atkins 2 and Ben Smith before Tredegar pulled a goal back. Ben Smith added his second to make it 4-1 at the break.

The second period was always going to be difficult given the conditions and with Tredegar game plan being to just launch the ball into the box at every opportunity they pulled back to 4-4 with still 20 minutes to go. Despite many near misses and scrambles Town looked to have held out for a draw but were denied a point when Tredegar scored the winner two minutes into stoppage time.

The overall performance of Caldicot was far below the standard they have set themselves since the start of the year and they must now bounce back next weekend with a home match against Rogerstone.

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Gwent County U18 League

AC Pontymister 2 - 2 Caldicot Town

(Caldicot scorers: Ciaran Adamson, own goal)

Caldicot Town’s under 18 side fought out a well deserved draw against table topping Pontymister, this, despite being without four players through injury and two key players carrying knocks into the game.

With Town opting to play a 4-5-1 formation the game was an even contest but the league leaders took the lead midway through the first half when a cross from the left was finished off well. Despite the set back Caldicot continued compete and were rewarded when Ciaran Adamson marked his debut by scoring following a long free kick into the box which was not cleared.

The second half continued to be an even affair but the home side went ahead again when a free kick on the edge of the box was headed home. The home side then went looking to increase their lead but some resolute Caldicot defending kept them at bay. Then with just five minutes left and Pontymister looking to waste as much time as possible, a deep Ben Smith cross from the left was inadvertently headed past his own keeper by the home centre back. The remaining five minutes saw chances at both ends but at the whistle Town had bagged a very good point.

Next weekend sees Caldicot travel to Mardy.