SECOND-HALF BLITZ SEES CELTS OPEN WITH A DERBY WIN

CWMBRAN CELTIC 3 – CWMBRAN TOWN 0


Ardal League South East · Tuesday 28 July · The Motazone Arena · Att: 410

Cwmbran Celtic kicked off the new Ardal South East campaign in perfect style, blowing local rivals Cwmbran Town away with a devastating second-half spell to win 3-0 in front of a bumper derby-night crowd of 410 at the Motazone Arena.

On a warm summer evening and a dry, hard-baked pitch, the first half was a tight, cagey affair between two well-matched rivals, with the only real flashpoint a yellow card for Town’s Kai Wint on 20 minutes. It stayed goalless at the break — but the Celts blew the game wide open in a stunning 11-minute spell after the restart.

The breakthrough came on 50 minutes, Finlay Wood finishing off a fine move laid on by Rudi Griffiths. Five minutes later the Celts had daylight, Oliver Berry stepping up to convert a penalty on 55′ for 2-0. And there was still time for the pick of the lot on 61 minutes, Berry turning provider as Griffiths got the goal his display deserved to make it 3-0.

Three goals in eleven minutes killed the game as a contest, and with Lewis Watkins in goals seeing out a well-earned clean sheet, there was nothing the visitors — Lee Trundle and all — could do about it. A near-perfect opening night, and three points to build the season on.

Up next: the Celts head to Tredegar Town on Saturday 1 August (2:30pm).