Talgarth Town consolidated their position as promotion contenders with a battling performance away to third placed Blaenavon, resulting in a 3-1 victory on Saturday, 23 March.

The win takes the Town within one point of Gwent Central League (Division 2) leaders Cwmffrwdoer Res with both teams scheduled to meet next week at Cwmffrwdoer. 

Conditions were not ideal for good football with a bumpy surface and strong wind making it difficult for both teams to establish any sort of rhythm to their play. Talgarth with the wind at their backs held the advantage for much of the first half without creating any clear goal scoring opportunities in open play. As the clock ticked down there was little to suggest any thing other than a stalemate at the half-time break. However on forty-five minutes with a measure of good fortune Talgarth made the breakthrough from a Brian Keddle-Jones free kick which the Blaenavon keeper failed to gather cleanly as the ball crossed the goal line.  The goal brought a sigh of relief from Talgarth’s Team Manager Mark (Tiny) Harding and his coaching team. However relief soon turned into elation when Talgarth were awarded a free kick in added on time and up stepped the evergreen Gavin Perry to strike a thity-five yard free kick that gathered momentum due to the strong winds blowing in Talgarth’s favour, leaving the Blaenavon keeper with no chance of saving the effort. Talgarth entered the break with a two-goal lead over third placed Blaenavon.

Thanks to the two late goals at the end of first half Talgarth were able to kick off the second forty-five minutes with something to defend as Blaenavon  looked to push forward with the wind at their backs. However a well drilled Talgarth back line and hard working midfield were able to contain everything that came their way until the sixty-third minute when Blaenavon broke down the right and produced a pinpoint cross into the Talgarth box which was guided into the net by Tidball to give the hosts belief as  they now looked to level the score. Despite conceding the third goal of the game, Talgarth were not deterred by this set back and restricted Blaenavon to long range attempts that rarely troubled Tom Bevan in the Talgarth goal whilst at the same time creating half chances to extend their lead and it was one such opportunity on the stroke of full-time when Gresh Chondnicki cut in from the left and fired towards the near post to beat the Blaenavon keeper. With the score at 3-1, Talgarth were comfortable enough to see out the game and gain three well deserved points.

Talgarth produced a hard working team performance and gained a deserved three points which sets things up nicely for next week's game, which sees Talgarth travel away to table toppers Cwmffrwdoer Res.   

Following Saturday’s 3-1 triumph, Talgarth are now positioned just a point behind Gwent Central League (Division 2) leaders Cwmffrwdoer Res before their top of the table clash next weekend.