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Unbeaten Ardal South East league leaders Trethomas Bluebirds extended their lead at the top with a 4-0 victory over Chepstow Town at the Centre for Sporting Excellence.

Despite sitting near to the bottom, Bluebirds manager Mark Dunford warned Chepstow were not to be taken lightly, and with the score 0-0 at half-time, he was proven correct.

Like the force they have been all season however, the Bluebirds managed to get the breakthrough goal thanks to Levi Rees. Rees soon scored another, before an Ethan Edwards finish and James Young strike secured the all-important three points on Friday February 9.

Kick-off

The visitors began the game on the front foot with an opening flurry of possession. A neat set piece routine from a corner allowed Joshua Parsons to get a shot off, but his effort was well over.

It’s often Trethomas however who start as the aggressors, and within a few minutes winger Ethan Edwards found himself free in the box, but his shot/cross was well wide.

There was a clear change in game plan from the Bluebirds in this tie. Often a side that is happy to build from the back, drawing a team to one side before switching to the other, instead opted for a more direct approach.

Goal keeper Harry Irving’s instructions were clear. When he had the ball, go long. Specifically down the right, where the speedy Levi Rees was looking to run in behind.

Right back Ryan Bolter was also seeing a lot of ball. When he wasn’t chipping it into the channel he was looking to cross early. Almost no passes were played inside to the midfielders.

After 25 minutes, there was still no real fluidity to the game. The hosts were clearly on top, but that hadn’t led to much in the way of chances.

For Chepstow, they were doing their best to be opportunistic with the ball, a long shot Sonny Lewis had Irving down to his right, but it was comfortably wide.

Of the midfielders for Trethomas, Liam Fawcett looked the most involved. He was quick to the breakdown and looked to get the ball forward in possession.

There were a few nervy moments for the visitors. But overall they coped well inside the opening 30 minutes. Striker Gareth Tedstone had one deflected onto the outside of the post, but other than that it looked easy enough for them.

The game was becoming a little edgy as half-time approached. Referee Ashley Thomas was letting almost everything go and players were trying their luck.

It all boiled over on the stroke of half-time when a lovely Tedstone flick through to goal set Rees on his way.

With goalkeeper Matthew Swann rushing out, Rees’ delightful dink over Chepstow’s number one clipped the post and ran out.

The side line erupted however when referee Thomas pointed for a goal kick when it looked like Swann got a hand to Rees’ effort.

Assistant manager Adam Raymond entered the book for his protests and the whistle went shortly after.

Second-half:

There wasn’t a clear change to Dunford’s tactics to begin the second-half. But there appeared to be some subtle adjustments.

Making the pitch long and getting the fast forwards running past defenders was still the order of the day, but the midfield was now seeing some more of the ball and playing that extra pass.

Tom Gameson especially was looking to play that killer pass, and he should have had an assist when he played a brilliant ball through to Edwards.

Just inside the right of the penalty area, it looked a certainty that Edwards would find the net, but he pulled his effort wide without testing the keeper.

In a game of few chances, it felt like a huge opportunity missed.

One underrated quality this Bluebirds outfit has is fitness. And after an hour played, the balls in behind were becoming more and more difficult for Chepstow to chase back and defend.

In contrast, the Trethomas forwards appeared to be running faster. Rees chased a ball over the defence but couldn’t quite get his feet sorted out before it was cleared behind for a corner.

Gareth Emmanuel whipped the corner in and backing away from goal, Rees finally gave Trethomas the lead with a superb header into the top left. Breakthrough at last.

The question now was, could Chepstow respond?

They’d offered little up until the goal, and that didn’t change as the minutes ticked by.

With 20 minutes to go, the Bluebirds were done messing about. Bolter this time chipped a great ball over the top to Rees, who timed his run perfectly.

Through on goal, Rees’ speed was too much for the defender. He breezed past him, sat the keeper down, and reversed his finish into the far corner. 2-0 and it felt over.

Rees could have had his hattrick shortly after barring a good save. The ball was only pushed as far as Gameson however whose shot was scuffed to the feet of Edwards at the far post.

He had his chance earlier, but the winger was not missing this time. 3-0.

The floodgates were open now. It was a few minutes before Trethomas had their fourth; Rees again causing havoc with his pace.

Bursting down the left channel, he got to the touchline before cutting a cross back to substitute and recent signing James Young.

Young put his foot through the strike and blasted it past everyone into the net.

Trethomas managed the rest of the game out well. They’d won what felt like a war of attrition, sticking to their guns until the opposition could take no more.

An invaluable three points, the Bluebirds remain undefeated in the league this season, and sit six points clear of rivals Newport City with a game in hand.