A chilly midweek fixture at Abertillery 3G saw the 1st Team keep their promotion dream alive, with a decisive 3 points being claimed from Pentwynmawr AFC.

The visitors would actually be the home side in this situation, with their own pitch unplayable after another depressing bout of rain these past few days, and with the Excelsiors run of games on the artificial surface not being the best – it was anyone’s ball game.

The opening minutes were frantic at best, with some end-to-end play and engines on max throttle, an early mistake from Pentwynmawr opening the opportunities for the evening as Shaun Smith eyed an early goal. Credit though where it’s due, for as quickly as the lads were making ground on their opponents, Pentwynmawr were able to knock the ball to safety and avoid an early goal, more often than not breaking out on the rebound only to be cut off by Tyla Preece and the Abertillery back line.

When Callum Williams was downed for a short time after a tough tackle, any momentum that the ‘home’ side had fought hard to build was sucked out of the game and equal footing ruled again, with advantage dissipating for both sides, who seemed destined to lock horns for the whole 90 minutes without either side giving way.

As the game got into its groove, the Excelsiors were the more goal-hungry of the two teams, with opportunities presenting themselves often and near-hits like those of Jamie Laurent’s thunderous effort working as warning shots for the opposition. Pentwynmawr though would show their flirtation with the goal as a one-on-one effort was superbly saved by Kevin Roberts, with the game still tied up without a goal.

The midfield contingent had a storming performance overall with Lewis Jones being the target of a gang marking from Pentwynmawr, the opponents not allowing the former Newport County and Abergavenny Town player from finding space and enclosing on him at every opportunity. Likewise, Jamie Laurent’s engine once again proved invaluable throughout the game and the resilience and calm composure of captain Brett Morgan held firm in the centre of the pitch, a constant reminder of skill and experience playing a pivotal role.

Yet it was the ‘other’ Brett who left people’s mouths agape when Brett Alderson went for what initially seemed like a throwaway effort from 35 yards out but upon execution, was nothing short of an absolute lightning bolt strike that rocketed past the Pentwynmawr ‘keeper to push the Excelsiors to 0-1.

The gigantic goal was all the lads needed to rekindle the fire of the opening minutes, with Dafydd Phillips trying to follow up moments later with another decent effort, but at the end of the opening 45 minutes it was a slim single goal lead for the Excelsiors.

The second half started with a bang as Jamie Laurent’s persistence paid off once again, as the bulldog-esque midfielder forced his way onto the scoresheet yet again with a great finish and made it 0-2.

As the two goal lead began to plague Pentwynmawr psychologically, their efforts became more erratic but retained their threat level at a high amber, attempting to close the deficit and get back into the game. No sooner had their comeback began, the educated feet of Laurent nearly struck a death blow to them as a great ball across the mouth of goal only narrowly missed their intended target. The ‘hosts’ then put hearts in mouths as a fantastic freekick effort ricocheted off the crossbar and denied them an all-important goal, as play resumed much as it started the evening off, with frenetic end-to-end, back and forth action, the tempo absolutely unrelenting.

As Pentwynmawr desperately tried to claw their way back into the game and take a clean sheet away in the process, Jamie Laurent had one parting shot that became more of a nail in the coffin for the opposition, with a sublime photo-finish goal off of a slick ball in by Brett Morgan to power the Excelsiors to 0-3 with little chance of a Rocky-like comeback in the script. As the referee blew up, an exhausted but defiant Pentwynmawr have nothing to be ashamed of but unfortunately, the clinical and strategic dissection by the Excelsiors was just too much on this night.