Reds clinch promotion

11:58am Monday 12th May 2008

Newcastle Emlyn 8 Abertillery Excelsiors 0 Ending the term with four wins on the bounce the Reds rid themselves of their MacWhirter Welsh League Division Three shackles after eight seasons as they clinched runners-up spot behind Pentwyn Dynamoes.

Needing a point to make absolutely certain of promotion Emlyn controlled the game from the first whistle but had only one goal to show for their dominance during the opening 45 minutes.

The strike came courtesy of Jimmy James who slid in to net after Gary Davies played the ball across the face of the goal.

After Jonathan Clarke was unceremoniously brought down Emlyn were awarded a penalty but the spot kick by skipper Sean Jones was kept out by the Excelsiors goalkeeper.

Early in the second period the visitors looked as if they could make a fight of it, but three goals in the space of four minutes killed off their challenge.

Sean Jones put Gary Davies through for the crucial second goal, Jimmy James crashed a shot into the roof of the net to increase the advantage and Kevin Morgan hammered home the fourth goal. Manager Mathew Price netted the fifth and Morgan got his second with a long range effort before the goal of the game was struck by goalkeeper Peter Blain. Moving up to take a free kick outside the penalty area the custodian bent the ball around the wall into the far corner of the net to make it 7-0 and Gary Evans completed the scoring when heading home at a corner.

Afterwards Reds manager Mathew Price, who joined the club in September 2004 when the Teifisiders were struggling, and has seen them make steady progress, said: "The players have given me great support from the start of the season. They have trained hard and given everything on the pitch.

"We are looking forward to the challenge in Division Two next season, but for now we'll just enjoy our bit of glory," he said.