Welsh League D3: Treowen 3, Chepstow Town 2

IN HIS first game back in charge at Chepstow Town at the weekend, Barrie Vassallo was unable to build on the two successive wins under caretaker manager Wayne Samuels, with his side crashing to a 3-2 defeat on a boggy pitch at lowly Treowen.

Town, who slip back into the bottom three as a result, had led 2-1 at the break through two strikes from Barrie's son Nicky - taking his tally to five in two games. But a poor second half saw Treowen claw the game back and claim a crucial win.

David Stephenson had put Treowen ahead before Nicky Vassallo back-heeled in a cheeky equaliser, tucking away a flicked-on corner; and then put Chepstow ahead before the break.

But Treowen's Simon Evans drew the sides level, before Chris Lewis was sent off for Chepstow for a second bookable offence. Lewis Cootes restored Treowen's slender lead and when Matthew Owen suffered a late neck injury Chepstow's chances of a fightback faded.

Barrie Vassallo commented: "Obviously I'm disappointed after how the boys played the last couple of games and got the results. The first half we didn't play particularly great but were 2-1 up and doing well.

"Then the second half we just didn't perform and what annoyed me more was that we lost our fight and didn't battle. We made silly costly mistakes, then there was the sending off and when Owen got injured we effectively played the last 10 or 15 minutes with nine men."