NATHANIEL CARS WELSH LEAGUE DIVISION THREE

TREDEGAR TOWN ....... 3 CAERAU ......................... 2

BOTTOM defeated top, as leaders Caerau received an unwanted early Christmas present at Tredegar, writes Tony Poole.

Not too many fans saw this result coming, but the word on the street was that Tredegar – who had only won once previously in the league this winter – were heading into a revival mode.

And it was the Riverboaters that experienced first hand the reawakening of the Monmouthshire side, who even came from 1-0 and 2-1 down to card this shock victory.

However, Caerau should have twigged it long ago that there are no easy games on the third-division scene.

Even taking notorious form like the morning after the night before and Black Friday into account, the Riverboaters should have been savvier.

They did the first part right in taking an early lead with top scorer Chay Davies once again their marksman.

That seemed to signal a comfortable away win was about to unfold but the Riverboaters began to take in water when Tredegar levelled in the approach to half-time.

Ian Pettit got the goal that pointed the way ahead and it was 1-1 during the interlude.

The Riverboaters then righted a rocking boat with another Chay Davies goal – his 14th of the season – and Tredegar were expected to sink without trace.

But it went the other way when the buoyant home side soon equalised through Jimmy Price - nicknamed Tank.

And it was Tank that flattened Caerau hopes with a winner that made it a long journey back to the Llynfi Valley.

But at the start of the season, if anyone had told Caerau they would be Christmas number one in Division Three, in all probability they would have bitten your hand off.

Caerau resume action on January 7, and will look to ring in the New Year with a home win over Treowen Stars.