Gwent County League

Division 1

Saturday 25th August 2018

Kick Off 16.15 Actual 16.00

Villa Dino Christchurch 1 Newport Civil Service 3,  attendance 201

8’ 0-1

10’ 0-2

60’ 1-2

79’ 1-3

@ Whiteheads Sports & Social Club

Park View

Bassaleg

NP10 8LA

£3 Admission

Programme available, but I won’t buy one on any event organised by Groundhop UK.

This game will sadly be remembered more by some for the fact that it kicked off earlier than advertised, rather than for it being a really good match. The match kicked off 15 minutes earlier than advertised for some reason, meaning quite a number of ‘hoppers missed the first two goals of the match (some might say it was their own fault for nipping to the pub in between matches). Quite why the organisers didn’t bother to tell anyone about the earlier start is a mystery, although they have form for this, as those of us at Ponlottyn a few years ago will well know.

Anyway, Civil Service were in command early on and ran out deserved winners.

At least the early kick off meant I was home before 8.15pm, even with dropping off a couple of passengers near Heathrow Airport.

Gwent County League

Division 2

Saturday 25th August 2018

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.31

Rogerstone 1 Newport Corinthians 2,  attendance 161

30’ 0-1 (pen)

81’ 0-2

90’ + 1, 1-2

@ The Welfare Ground

School Terrace

Rogerstone

NP10 9EQ

£3 Admission

Programme available, but I won’t by one at any event organised by Groundhop UK.

It was less than ten minutes drive south from Risca to the second match of the day.

Rogerstone are newly promoted this season. They will wonder how they failed to win this one, having missed a ridiculous amount of chances when it was still 0-1, as much due to poor finishing as a real in form Corinthians ‘keeper. The second goal for the visitors came completely against the run of play, before Rogerstone finally netted in stoppage time.

Gwent County League

Division 1

Saturday 25th August 2018

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 10.59

A.C. Pontymister 3 Blaenavon Blues 2,  attendance 236

27’ 0-1

53’ 1-1

72’ 2-1

76’ 2-2

86’ 3-2 (pen)

@ The Longbridge

Bridge Street

Risca

NP11 6DE

£3 Admission

Programme available, but I won’t buy one at any event organised by Groundhop UK.

Having been home last night, as the driver for the Canton Liberal match was going to Arsenal versus West Ham United today, it meant another trip across The Bridge this morning to take in the first three matches of the ‘Hop, which would all be in the Gwent County League. Thankfully, it was only the fourth match of today’s scheduled games that we had both visited (the ground hosted Newport Y.M.C.A. when they were in the Welsh League) so we could get home nice and early.

Usually, the Gwent County League is good value for entertainment, but the first half here was far from it. The second half was much better and more like we are used to.