East Gwent League

Division 1

Tuesday 12th September 2023

Kick Off 18.00 On Time!

Underwood 3 Rockfield Rovers 1, attendance 37

10’ 0-1

21’ 1-1

22’ 2-1

41’ 3-1

@ Bishton Playing Fields

Larch Grove

off Waltwood Road

Underwood

NP18 2EW

No Admission or Programme.

This was the first game I’ve watched in the East Gwent League and wasn’t a bad one to start off with, between two ex-Gwent County League (now Gwent Premier League) clubs, currently 2nd versus 3rd in the league table. Having hosted higher level football, the pitch remains fully railed and has a couple of dugouts, one each side of the pitch and a changing room building near the entrance. Oddly, it is known as Bishton Playing Fields, after a village which is a couple of miles south of Underwood itself. It is adjacent to East Gwent Cycle Speedway track, which was very busy tonight and they were operating a tea bar, in the far corner between pitch and track, which was also doing hot food and drinks that was also available to spectators at the football.

The visitors took an early lead, scoring directly from a free kick just outside the 18 yard box, that the ‘keeper got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out. Underwood levelled with a cool side foot finish from 30 yards after the ‘keeper made a hash of an attempted clearance and within a minute it was 2-1, when a cross from the left was headed in at the far post. Four minutes before half-time Underwood made it 3-1 when a diagonal cross from the right was finished with a looping header over the ‘keeper. Surprisingly, that was it for the night as far as any more goals went, but it wasn’t for the lack of trying from both teams.

Nice to have a game that kicked off on time and good to see both teams warming up on the pitch a good 20-25 minutes before the scheduled start time. Halftime only lasted four minutes and we were done and dusted by 19.34. I was even back in England before it got dark!