Ardal League South East
Saturday 30th November 2024 - Jubilee Way Ko 2.00pm

Caldicot Town 4 - 0 Undy AFC

Caldicot ran out comfortable winners in this local derby notching an impressive four unanswered goals, three coming from the inform Ben Donoghue making it 16 goals in 17 league and cup games. After notching six goals in the sides last outing away at Abertillery, Town continued finding the net although the home side were only 1 - 0 up the break after good work from Laurent Ngunjoh saw him square a ball for Donoghue who took a second or two to adjust his feet before placing his shot into the Undy goal in the 8th minute. Caldicot should have gone into the break further ahead after Donoghue surprisingly put the ball over from close after meeting a good cross from the right hand side. Another Donoghue chance saw his floated chip narrowly go over Jack Harris's cross bar. 

There was no lack of effort from Undy who were missing the experienced top goal scorer, Gareth Cullimore and had James Barnes starting on the bench. Undy are a young side but can ill afford to not have the quality of the likes of that pair and Caldicot looked a far more developed and matured side than that of the visitors. A few corners a free kicks were all that Undy could muster, but caused little stress to the Caldicot back line.

Half-time: Caldicot 1 - 0 Undy

The second half saw Caldicot play towards the club end and a good crowd was in attendance to see this battle between the two local sides. Caldicot looked comfortable but were not finding the end product to much of their good play and whilst the score remained at only one nil, Undy were still very much in the game. Barnes eventually came on for Undy in the 58th minute to add some steel in the Undy midfield, whilst on 70 minutes, the Caldicot management made a couple of changes bringing on Ben Smith for Laurent Ngunjoh and Mihoubi replaced the impressive youngster, Jake Davies in the Caldicot midfield. 

With the game moving to its final stages, Caldicot at last put a bit of daylight between themselves and Undy when Ben Donoghue picked the ball up on the right hand side of the Undy area where he floated what could have been a cross into the far top corner of Jack Harris's goal, but lets give him the benefit of the doubt on this one! Sam Watkins then came on to replace Nero Gowran after Town had extended their lead and Matt Swann joined Lewis Grant into the referee's black book on 83 minutes. 

Undy at this point looked defeated and unfortunately for them it was to get worse as Sam Swann, who carried the ball well all match, worked his way into a dangerous position that saw Undy's Oliver Smith hit his own post just seconds before diverting a Lyes Mihoubi shot into his own net on 86 minutes. James Pinnell replaced Lewis Grant in the closing stages before Ben Donoghue grabbed his hatrick at the death. More good work from Sam Swann saw Donoghue collect the ball about 10 yards out and pick his spot leaving Harris with little chance. 

A great result for Town who completed the double of Undy and now face a tough run of fixtures before Christmas starting with Brecon Corries at home next Saturday 7th December followed by Chepstow Town on Tuesday 10th December, 7.30pm Ko.