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Trethomas Bluebirds are just one win away from being crowned Ardal South East champions after a 3-2 win over Caldicot Town.

The Bluebirds travelled to Jubilee Way on Saturday May 4 knowing they had to win at a ground where they’d lost on their last three visits.

It looked as though it would be a comfortable afternoon for the league leaders when Levi Rees put them 1-0 up inside 20 minutes.

Two more goals through Thomas Gameson and Ethan Edwards made it 3-0 after an hour played, before Caldicot fought back with Samuel Watkins and Jackson Dean goals to make it a very nervy final few minutes.

The Bluebirds held-on though, and will win the league if they beat Treowen Stars tonight (Tuesday May 7).

Kick-off

It was a fast start from the Bluebirds, who were keen to get the ball down and play on a sunny Saturday afternoon in Caldicot.

Despite some early pressure though, it was actually the hosts who had the first half-chance of the game; down the left, a shot from Samuel Watkins bobbled into the arms of Harry Irving.

There was an early blow for Caldicot after defender Gethin Foster was forced off through injury. Simon Crook took his place.

The rapid Ethan Edwards took full advantage of this unexpected change, and was soon past Crook and getting a shot off. It was high over the bar on this occasion however.

There was more joy down the left for Trethomas soon after, this time striker Gareth Tedstone found himself in space before playing a perfect ball between the keeper and defence.

Levi Rees gambled at the back post and slid in to score his 25th league goal of the season – just one goal behind Blaenavon Blues’ Chris Ham in the race for the golden boot.

It was an important goal for Trethomas, not just for their push to win the league of course, but to settle into the game at a ground where they’d struggled in recent seasons.

Tedstone had a chance to score himself not long after. Indecision in the box allowed Rees to scoop the ball over the backline to Tedstone in front of goal.

His effort was scuffed towards keeper Matthew Sandiford who just about collected.

The Bluebirds were really growing into the game now, Edwards continued to find space down the left, nearly scoring a great solo goal cutting inside but putting his effort narrowly wide.

Harvey Selway was getting involved at right-back too, swinging balls into the far post so the likes of Tedstone could head or cross back towards the centre of the goal.

James Young, who had a great game in midfield, had a headed chance, but it came at him with some pace and he nodded over.

Going the other way, Dean Jackson looked the biggest threat Caldicot had to offer, his tricky footwork was difficult to stop at times.

As the half came to a close, it was more tennis than football between the two sides, with both keen to clear their lines and get to the dressing room.

Second-half

The Bluebirds coaching staff certainly earned their money at half-time, when the Bluebirds scored two quickfire goals to take a commanding 3-0 lead.

A mistake from Crook was pounced upon by Edwards who sprinted to the by-line before cutting the ball back to Thomas Gameson in the middle. The midfielder smashed the ball past Sandiford who had no chance.

The goalkeeper didn’t have much chance shortly after when a superb ball through from Tedstone found Edwards – who timed his run perfectly.

Full of confidence, Edwards sat the goal keeper down, skipped around him and tapped into an empty net.

That should have been game over, but credit to Caldicot, they answered back instantly.

There was a mistake somewhere on the Trethomas backline, when moving the ball from right to left, Watkins found himself unmarked on the edge of the area.

He took the chance well, firing into the far corner past Irving.

The remaining half-hour was very nervy stuff to say the least. A header straight after the goal was put narrowly wide by Caldicot, as Bluebirds assistant manager Matthew Jones fumed in the dugout.

To make matters worse, Edwards went off with what looked like an injury, and captain Ryan Bolter was subbed after picking-up an early yellow.

It should have been 3-2 when Laurent Ngunjoh’s free header was goal-bound, but Irving managed to get a fingertip to the effort.

Soon after though and it was 3-2. Liam Fawcett played a ball into midfield which was intercepted easily enough and passed out wide.

It wasn’t clear who had the final touch on the cross by Lyes Mihoubi, but Jackson was the one celebrating as the ball bounced past Irving into the far corner.

It really felt like the game was slipping away from Trethomas, who might have had half a mind on the title after taking what should have been an unassailable 3-0 lead.

Caldicot were a fairly big side, but the Bluebirds couldn’t win a header or gather the second ball for the remainder of the game. They were really struggling.

Another set piece, this time a corner. It was won by a Caldicot defender but hooked off the line by Trethomas as the travelling fans held their breath.

Gwion Pugh-Jones was brought on to offer some height and leadership with ten minutes to go. Both were desperately needed.

William Francis-Obeng had a golden chance to draw things level at the back post when a cross beat Irving and Francis-Obeng was there with a free header. He somehow put it wide though.

It was hands on head stuff in the Trethomas dugout, Manager Mark Dunford couldn’t quite believe what was happening out there after looking so comfortable all game.

Tedstone had dropped into the backline for the remaining few minutes to offer some height, with the Caldicot pressure only intensifying.

Added time was painfully slow for the Bluebirds, who were hunkered deep, celebrating every clearance and throwing like a goal.

Every credit though, they hung-on in there valiantly to secure a massive three points with second place Newport City breathing down their necks.

The Bluebirds are now one win away from being crowned Ardal South East champions and gaining promotion into the Cymru South – the second tier of Welsh football.