Saturday 15th November 2008
Monmouth Town 0 Briton Ferry Athletic 2
Despite a realtively solid defensive display Monmouth Town's Kingfishers were again made to pay for missed opprortunties, some bad offside decsions and indiscpline as a compact and skilfull Briton Ferry side made their way back to West Glamorgan with all three points.
Town had been given strict instructions on how they needed to play the game by absent Manager Andy Beattie and for the most part followed them to the letter. Ferry were largely frustrated by a sea of defenders in the first half and didn't force Roberts in the Town goal to make a single save. At the other end Palmer and Bowen were getting in good positions but failed to get shots away or were mysteriously pulled up for offside.
The portents for the second half were not good however as Smith picked up a needless yellow card after only five minutes.
On the hour Briton Ferry went ahed following a good delivery into the box that Kennedy could only steer past the stranded Roberts. Within minutes frustration got the better of Smith and he was sent packing for contesting a throw in decision too strongly.
From then on it was an uphill struggle although more chances went begging the best when substitute McCoy's free kick was saved and Sam Palmer blasted over from six yards.
Ferry capped a delicious curling ball in to the box with a solid headed finish and a third goal seemed certain in the dying moments as the ball ricocheted from both posts and out much to the delight of the home supporters.
Stand in manager Barry Burns had a mixed view of the game afterwards saying "We set the team to play in a certain way and defensively did well limiting their attempts on goal and we defended set pieces well. The two other parts of our game plan were discpline and to make their keeper work when we had chances. A sending off and five bookings tells you one of things we'll work on this week and the fact that we hit the target only once in seven or eight attempts tells you the other. Its work in progress".
Beattie Stops the Rot
Saturday 1st November 2008
Monmouth Town 1 Llansawel 1
It wasn't quite a fairy tale start for new boss Andy Beattie but a hard earned point against fellow strugglers Llansawel ended the Kingfishers run of eight straight defeats and laid some solid foundation for harder tests over the winter months.
Looking more solid and tighter defensively with clear instructions to increase the mobility of the forward play Town looked sharper in the early exchanges bringing good saves from the Llansawel keeper and generally keeping any opposition threat as far away from goal as possible.
Some good chances went begging and it seemed as if a familiar story was unfolding until a great move was capped with a calm finish by Alderdice.
The initiative swung the visitors way in the second half as Town seemed unable to clear their lines and 'Sawel earned a deserved equaliser when a corner was badly defended and a header found the bottom corner.
With Town stuttering to find rythym Smith earned a penalty that should have wrapped up the points but Dean Palmer's wild attempt troubled only the visiting birdlife as it sailed embarrasingly high and wide.
A late double substitution saw Williams earn his first team debut and the injection of pace from subs Tabb and Wookey created some late havoc but no end product.
A relieved Chairman Lee Robson said after the game "In between making the half time tea and putting the pasties in the oven for the after match meal I was impressed with what I saw. We look more organised and whilst I would have been ecstatic with a win I think it was important to get something from the game. The players responded brilliantly all week and they have been very positive and willing to learn a new way of doing things. it's a bit of a shame we haven't got a game next week but the players have been told to report for training. That'll learn 'em"
Kingfishers Thumped at Troedyrhiw
Saturday 25th October 2008
Troedyrhiw 4 Monmouth Town 1
And on it goes. Monmouth Town's dismal run continued at Troedyrhiw as they suffered their heaviest defeat of the season and the worst for four years, with Sam McCoy's late goal providing little if any consolation.
Town Slump Continues
Saturday 18th October 2008
Risca United 2 Monmouth Town 1
Monmouth Town's stock fell faster and further than a British high street bank's with a comprehensive defeat at Risca last Saturday and fell to bottom but one in the Welsh League with only the hapless and pointless Merthyr Saints below them.
At other times Town may claim to be unlucky or rue missed chances or refereeing decsions but this was as total a defeat as a football game gets with Town outplayed from 0 to ninety and 1 - 14 as Risca started the game at high speed and ended it cruising downhill with the wind behind them in neutral as they had outfought and outthought a timid and tepid Kingfisher side showing no appettite for the fight.
The only bright spot was a glory goal from Smith that was completely against the run of play while goals from substitute Gay and young striker Derrevan put the home side back in control to wrap up the points.
Town have now lost their last seven games in all competitions and, a win against Merthyr apart, have to look back to last April for their last competitive win, an emphatic win against current table toppers Llantwit Fardre, which showed the level they are capable of, a level that must be quickly reached if a winter haunted by relegation fears is to be avoided.
Strange Time Warp Thingy Aids Town Win
Saturday 4th October 2008
Monmouth Town 3 Seven Sisters 1
(Actually we lost 4 - 3)
A wierd time warp worm hole occurrence the like of which has never been seen before set up Monmouth Town Kingfishers on their way to their first home win of the season.
In a twilight world that only Stephen Hawkin could explain the game kicked off with twelve minutes on the clock and Town playing some great football stroking the ball around with no little aplomb and got their first goal courtesy of a flowing move that Smith finished with a surging run into the box.
The surrela natuire of the game continued as Town pummelled the visitors goal and got their second just before the break as Bowen slalomed through the defence to place the ball in the far corner.
The second half which started on time was an even more hallucenogenic affair as Alderidice hit a post and Palmer failed to convert a point blank rebound (that bit was normal) but Bowen got his second with a header to put Town 3 - 0 up.
Seven Sisters did get a goal back against the run of play when Williams slightly muisujudged a blasting strike which spolied an otherwise impeccable display of the net keeper's arts.
(editors note: The match report is a fictitious account loosely based on real events. Any similarlity with anyone living or recently slaughtered in the local press is wholly coincidental).
Sorry Town Slump Again
Saturday 27th September, 2008
Monmouth Town 2 AFC Llwydcoed 3
It was case of after the Lord Mayor’s show for Monmouth ‘s Kingfishers as last Wednesday’s brave performance against Cwmbran Town was rendered null and void with a second half horror show against title challengers Llwydcoed. Two nil up at the break courtesy of goals by Rogers and Palmer and facing the second half against a ten man Llwydcoed who had seen their ‘keeper dismissed as early as the twenty fifth minute the home supporters could have been forgiven for expecting a mature performance to see off spirited by limited opponents. What they got was a secon half performance so lacking in discipline and heart that Llwydcoed simply blew them away with two goals in the final five minutes, the winner with the last kick of the game. For almost the entire second half Llwydcoed showed the necessary desire and commitment, constantly outnumbering a labouring midfield and overlapping at will to create panic every time they reached the Monmouth Town penalty area. The Kingfishers simply had no answer to the barrage despite manful performances by Davies and Alderdice at the heart of the back four and plenty of attitude by Smith and Wookey.
Town Lose Out in Seven Goal Thriller
Wednesday 24th September 2008
Gwent Senior Cup
Cwmbran Town 4 Monmouth Town 3 (aet)
Monmouth Town’s brave Kingfishers came within inches of a famous victory at Cwmbran Stadium last Wednesday having fought back from a goal and 2—1 down to see a last kick of normal time game cleared off the Cwmbran goal line.
For long periods the Town looked most likely and weren’t shy of shooting for a change but saw most of the attempts fly high and wide.
Neville Harris wads looking to the manor born ina new right back berth and Alderdice prompted well in the absence of skipper Smith. Roger s Bowen and Palmer also caused problems and Murphy was having a tidy game on the right hand side.
Against the run of play however the Crows struck first when Town failed to deal with a long throw to the near post which was flicked on and in by the home striker.
The second half was much the same pattern with both sides keen to keep the ball on the floor and on 62 minutes Bowen caught the keeper in possession, kept his composure to round him and roll the ball home.
Just five minutes later town were undone as they lost possession in midfield and the long ball caught Harris on the wrong side and the ball was tucked past Williams. Cue new signing Sam McCoy. His horrible first touch in Town’s colours belied his second as he latched on to the ball on the edge of the area and clipped the ball home for the equaliser.
Town had much the better of the late exchanges but were nervous in front of goal when with thelast kick of the normal time McCoy eased past his marker and sent in a dangerous cross that somehow failed to go in. Extra time saw McCoy go close again and Palmer and Rogers forcing saves but a hopeful cross to the back post was headed back across the Town goal and a Cwmbran took the lead . Moments later Williams flapped at a cross and in the ensuing melee Cwmbran made it four.
Town did have time to launch a late rally as again good work by McCoy set up Rogers to finish smartly and at the death Palmer had a goal bound effort well saved by the keeper.
'Double Sammy’ for Kingfishers
Welsh League Cup Round 1
Saturday 20th September, 2008
Monmouth Town 1 Cwmbran Celtic 2
Monmouth Town were bundled out of the Welsh league cup by second division Cwmbran Celtic last Saturday but were also celebrating a double striker signing as they netted Sam McCoy from local football and Sam Holdsworth from Welsh League rivals Risca United.
The two new signings had a close up view of their new team mates and would have no doubt as to why they were needed as once again Town missed a series of good chances and made two basic defensive errors which presented the victory to the visitors.
Town were the better side for long periods of the game and might have gone ahead in the first half but for inspired goalkeeping from the 17 year old Celtic’s Lee Challenger and Celtic’s strikers always looked the more likely to succeed.
Bowen and Rogers had lively games for Town but the Kingfishers were crying out for more width, penetration and pace that hopefully McCoy and Holdsworth can provide and finally took the lead on 65 minutes after great work by Rogers had handed Sam Pak,mer a sitter but also after Celtic had been reduced to 10 men. It was the third game in succession that town found themselves facing a depleted opposition and as with the other games failed to make the extra man count. A defensive shift saw Kennedy replaced by Wookey and Harris moved from right to left presumably to give some game time to Wookey but within minutes Town had conceded an equaliser failing to deal with a long throw in that evaded everyone but the unmarked striker at the back post.
Worse was to follow on 82 minutes when Davies made a hash of a pass from defence and presented the Celtic striker with his second that was calmly slotted beyond Williams. Dean Palmer belated introduction added much needed urgency to proceedings but despite some good late efforts from Town Celtic left Monmouth with a win that in truth was a testament to their better all round quality.
Kingfishers Blown Away at the Seaside
Wednesday 3rd September 2008
Porthcawl Town 2 Monmouth Town 1
The Kingfishers bowed out of the Welsh Cup at the preliminary stage in dreadful conditions at Porthcawl’s Lock’s Lane which made a mockery of any attempt at playing the beautiful game. Neville Harris put Town ahead on twenty minutes with a near post cross which eventually nestled in the far post corner although the Seasiders mastered the conditions better and were possibly unlucky to go in a goal down at half time.
They were soon level when Davies misjudged a swirling ball and left the home striker to finish past a stranded Williams. Worse followed just five minutes later when the Town defence failed to deal with a number of short passes and a good finish put Porthcawl in front. Huff and puff as they did the conditions got the better of both sides and Porthcawl were in the next round.
Newport Red Tape Blocks Town
Saturday 30th August 2008
Newport Civil Service 3 Monmouth Town 1
Any promotion ambitions that Monmouth Town might have held are already looking decidedly shaky as, for the second week running, they failed to make their better passing and possession tell against a strong Civil Service side newly promoted on the back of successive Gwent County Championships.
Town started brightly enough harrassing the Civil midfield whose only threat came from set peices for the most part well handled by Harris and co in the Town defence. Some of the attacking play was also promising with Bowen once again leading the line superbly but again lacking decent support but a few good moves almost unpicked a well drilled Civl defence as shots by Bowen, Palmer and Harris flew wide.
Fourteen minutes into the game however a hopefull punt from the home 'keeper was ignored by everyone except the alert Cadman and he struck firmly past the stranded Williams.
Town started the second half the stronger and took the game to the hosts and were rewarded on the hour when Bowen was impeded. Dean Palmer rammed home the penalty. Five minutes later a red card for a home defender turned the game in Town's favour and led to a burst of attacking that created clear cut chances for Palmer, Bowen and Harris. That the home keeper wasn't forced to save any of them tells its own story. And then the wheels fell off. An innocuous free kick was handled in the area by Harris and suddenly Town were 2 - 1 down. Five minutes later Hughes and possibly the referee was duped by the rampaging Cadman into awarding the third penalty of the game and it was 3 -1. Despite a number of substitutions including another appaerarance for 51 year old Philpotts the Kingfishers had nothing to show and probabaly deserved nothing for a timid end to the game.
Kingfishers Chairman Lee Robson was dissapointed at the way the team capitulated "We had real high hopes coming into the season and we can still challenge but I think we were taught a lesson today in how to play like a team instead a bunch of individuals. They were hungrier, and had much more will to win than we did. Sure we missed chances and they didn't create an awful lot but they wanted it mnore than us. We have to be more than the sum of our parts and actually want to win games not just be content with 'being unlucky'. That doesn't win games".
Kingfishers Slay Saints
Wednesday 27th August 2008
Merthyr Saints 0 Monmouth Town 5
After failing to register a goal and only one shot on goal in the season opener Town went slightly goal crazy on a dismal evening in Merthyr. Playing without the suspended Smith, Town struggled to find a rhythm to their game and were unable to keep possesion on a pudding of a pitch more suited to a wet November afternoon than the height of the British summer. The first goal changed the complexion and when it came it followed a good passage of play which ended with Sam Palmer calmly rounding the 'keeper to slot home on 14 minutes.
From then on it was all Town as Saints struggled to string any passes together and on half an hour Wookey headed home a looping free kick. The half was finished off by Eddie Murphy finshing off a good move for his first goal for the club. Golden Child indeed.
Although Saints continued to try and get back in the game Town seemed able to create chances at will and Bowen was finally rewarded for another blistering game finishing off a goal mouth scramble. An early goal of the season contender followed as Murphy's angled forty yard pass found Sam Palmer who sold the dummy crossed superbly with his left foot and Bowen's emphatic downward header added the gloss. Sight of the gloomy evening was rampaging left back Ross Kennedy getting beyond the Saints defence in the last minute delivering a pin point cross that was inexplicably missed by both Bowen and Wookey.
Town Misfire in Season Opener As Smith Sees Red.
Saturday 23rd August 2008
Llantwit Fardre 2 Monmouth Town 0
Finally the waiting was over for Monmouth Town's Kingfishers as the Welsh League season got underway at Llantwit Fardre. If the result wasn't what the Kingfishers expected the performance probably was as the vast majority of possession and hugely enjoyable passages of play were once again let down by an inability to finish off ordinary opponents or to display any real killer instinct in the final third of the pitch.
Town fell behind in the seventh minute as a free kick flew over the defensive wall and beat Jenkins at his near post. Before and mostly after that it was pretty much all Monmouth as Llantwit soaked up pressure and looked to hit on the break. When they did they did with menace and were let down on more than one occasion by poor final passes and at times Town's defence looked more of a danger to themselves gving away possession too easily when under no pressure.
Alderdice and Smith were winning the midfield battle and prompting attacks and Bowen was having a superb game leading the line but too often lacked any quick support. A couple of efforts were easily saved and Harris hit the crossbar as the goalkeeper fumbled a corner kick but Town went into half time comfortably the better team but worryingly unable to turn promising situations into chances and chances into goals.
The second half was a similar story, not helped when Bowen was denied a blantant penalty as he turned his man and was upended. It wasn't until the seventieth minute that Davies replaced the tiring Wookey and Town pushed Dean Palmer forward in an increasingly despearate search for the equaliser. With just 12 minutes remaining Palmer was downed on the edge of the area and as Smith made for the loose ball was also upended. The referee, inexplicably chose to ignore the foul play and instead excercised a literal interpretation of the new 'respect' agenda and Smith looked up to see not an attacking free kick opportunity but a red card and an early bath for swearing.
Another double substitution saw Murphy, getting his first team competitive debut and Dorrington replace the hard working Cleaves and Harris but this added little to any creative options and with just five minutes remaining Town were picked apart down the right hand side and an overexposed Jenkins was left helpless as the home striker gleefully put the game out of reach.
Town Chairman Lee Robson was left to pick up the pieces after the game saying "I don't usually comment on referees and in truth he didn't cost us the game as we had more than enough possession and openings to have won the game comfortably. What does concern me though is an overzealous approach to new edicts. I am fully behind attempts to clean up the image of the game and cut out dissent and foul and abusive language but when someone who so obviously loves the game as much as Smudger (Andrew Smith) and plays it with such passion and commitment is sent off for just uttering a swear word directed at no one in particular that no-one outside of a five yard radius can hear its hard to see who benefits".
"The directive from the FAW is one of the most common sense pieces of guidance I've ever seen but it is aimed at stamping out abuse and dissent not naughty words. This is still a working man's game (just) and as such it reflects our pride, passion and at times our language. That may sound pompous but it's why so many of us love it ...warts an' all".
Late Pen Keeps Kingfishers on the boil.
Saturday 2nd August 2008
Monmouth Town 1 Albion Rovers 0
A late Andrew Smith penalty earned Monmouth Town a hard fought victory in the penultimate pre season friendly against Gwent County's Albion Rovers. Newport based Albion were quicker out of the blocks in the hastily rearranged fixture and although town soon got to the pace of the game the robust nature of the game meant that neither side could find any real rhythm.
Both sides had chances in a first half perhaps marred by a lot of dissent, some tough challenges and the frequent sound of the referee's whistle.
A changed formation in the second half was designed to take the game to the opponents but although Palmer joined Bowen up front it was very proving very difficult to break down the Rovers' rear guard.
As the game petered out among waves of substitutions Tabb wasted a glorious opportunity before great work by Bowen finally unlocked the defence and a clear hand ball led the referee to point to the spot. Smith made no mistake.
Stand in manager Lee Robson was pleased with the win but added "At this stage it's still about preparation for the game against Porthcawl (in a fortnight). We tried to get a mix of friendlies and we knew that Albion would be more physical than our other opponents so in that respect we came through it really well particularly with a clean sheet. Everyone has now had a fair amount of game time and we have a much better idea of what everyone is capable of and what systems work for us. Obviously I won't pick the team when we get serious but I'll be giving Nick (Oxford) my thoughts.
Town 's final pre season game is a local derby clash at Ross Town next Saturday (3pm kick off)
Broadwell Test Young Kingfishers
Thursday 31st July 2008
Broadwell Amatuers 2 Monmouth Town XI 1
The short trip to England ended in defeat to their Forest hosts but Monmouth Town 's young Kingfishers came back to Town with plenty of positives. A completely changed line up, skippered by Jack Alderdice, meant first starts for Greg Jones, Luke Harris and Martyn Dembicki while there were debuts for young goalkeeper Ryan Holder and Chris Tyler, all of whom acquitted themselves well.
The game itself was a fairly well contested affair and Monmouth's passing game contrasted well to the more direct approach of Broadwell.
Town fell behind to the first corner of the game on 25 minutes when Willaims missed his claim and the ball was blasted in follwing a penalty box pinball rally.
A couple of Town penalty appeals were waved away but it was deep into the second half that Tabb equalised following great wrok by Cleaves and Palmer. Minutes later Ford, having a much improved game on the left, struck well but his shot and Tabb's follow up were well saved by the home keeper.
The winner when it came was courtesy of ballooned cross which was manna for the 6'7" striker although Holder at 5'6" showed his bravery by competing for the ball.
Kingfishers Bite Bulldogs
Saturday 26th July 2008
Ton Pentre 2 Monmouth Town 3
Monmouth Town’s preparation for their second Welsh League season continued with a good workout against Ton Pentre’s Rhondda bulldogs on a sweltering afternoon at Ynys Park. The Kingfishers made the trip missing a number of key players and with only one substitute and started the game less than impressively against a very organised Ton Pentre who kept the ball well but struggled to make any inroads against a centre back pairing of Justin Harris and new Brazilian signing Alex.
As the first half wore on however the Kingfishers showed more invention than their hosts and went close on a couple of occasion as first Palmer shot wide and then the impressive Neville Harris failed to connect to a superb Dean Palmer through ball. Town got their breakthrough on the half hour as Cleaves and Tabb won 50:50 tackle before Sam Palmer arrowed a superb right foot strike into the top corner. Within thirty seconds Ton were level as Williams in the Town goal dallied with a back pass and was robbed by the Valleys strike who rolled it into an empty net. It was in fact Williams’ only aberration on an afternoon when he made three stunning saves, one from a point blank header.
Just before half Alderdice found the time and room to drill another great strike into the bottom corner to make it 2 – 1.
Ton Pentre’s half time team talk clearly galvanised the first division outfit and they moved up a couple of gears and played some good energy sapping possession football and equalised with a smart move finished comfortably with a neat header by Jamal. It seemed at that point that the young Town team with no fresh legs on the bench would wilt in the summer heat and Ton upped the pressure with the Kingfishers barely able to get the ball let alone keep it. Ton’s profligate strikers were made to pay as a great free kick by Dean Palmer evaded everyone except Alderdice who neatly nodded home his second of the afternoon. Ton were denied a last minute equaliser by the assistant referee and the Kingfishers returned home over the Rhigos Pass with a hard earned win. Stand in Manager and club Chairman was pleased with the afternoon’s work saying “It was very warm out there today and that was just in the dug out. I’d have been happy with a good work out and narrow defeat but these lads keep on surprising me. Ton were very good and kept the ball well but Williams was superb, Alex had a dream debut and we showed a lot of creativity when we got the ball. It was nice to see some shooting for a change.”
Oh Dereham ....but big improvement
Saturday 19th July
Dereham Town 3 Monmouth Town 2
Two second half goals from Simon Wookey brouight a lot of repectability to a game that had threatened to repeat last season's 7 - 1 drubbing at the hands of this quality Norfolk outfit. In fact there was no real comparison to last season's pre season opener and again showed that there has been a lot of improvement in the Town's team over the course of the year.
To add some consolation the Town's veterans, including a comeback from Steven Buffin, gained a 3 - 1 win against the hosts over 40's. The local Travel Lodge is also still in one piece.
Kingfishers Ease into Pre Season
Saturday 12th July
Monmouth Town 3 Cadoxton Cons Club 0
Scruffy goals from Andrew Smith, Matthew Bowen and a well worked effort from Simon Wookey got the Kingfishers pre season campaign off to a comfortable start against competitive Barry based outfit Cadoxton Cons.
Showing bags of energy after a fitness based pre season training regime the Town played with plenty of tempo and caused all sorts of problems but more pleasing was the way Town tried to keep the ball and make the passes tell.
The returning James Hughes looked to having a good time and added a bit of craft to the midfield, while Bowen as usual ran his legs off. Smith however was the pick of the team although Eddie Murphy made a promising start with a number of good crosses which created good opportunties.
The down side again was the seeming unwillingness to test the stand in goalkeeper as time and again attacking efforts were spurned either by taking too many touches or by uncertain finishing.
If the Town are to challenge this year as they have every right to do given the talent in the squad, they really will have to learn to take responsibility in front of goal.
This Saturday the Kingfishers travel to Norwich for a friendly against Ryman League outfit Dereham Town.
Kingfishers Look to Challenge for Honours.
Monmouth Town 3 Ystradgynlais 3 Abertillery 3 Monmouth Town 2 Penrhiwceiber 3 Monmouth Town 1
And so Monmouth Town’s first
season in Welsh League football ended with a bit of a whimper but taken in the
round the 12th place finish was probably a fair reflection of a long
tough season. In some ways the final three fixtures mirrored the season as a
whole with some sparkling football let down by poor finishing, and stronger
more experienced opponents needing not too many invitations to punish any
defensive lapses. In the first of the final three
games the Kingfisher inability to finish off a pair of teams that had concede
over 200 goals between them and for long periods of the season were the
division’s whipping boys came back to haunt them as both Ystradgynlais and
Abertillery gained points with late goals. That Town also used three
goalkeepers in the games showed the need next season for consistency between
the sticks and ruthlessness in front of them. There were however many plus
points as Bowen bagged his routine twenty for the season, and at times promoted
Penrhiwceiber couldn’t live with the movement and slick passing of Town’s
finest. Sixteen year old Matthew Tabb made his first start for the Town and
Spence looks a shoe in for young player of the season. Of the rest Smith found
his form towards the end of the season and can surely lead his young team to
greater things, Davies and Harris were solid throughout, Dorrington his usual
dogged self and Alderdice and Wookey weighed in with polished performances in
midfield. Cleaves at whatever position is clearly unappreciated but sticks to
his task manfully and the experience will only have made him better. Rogers
began to produce more mature performances realising that as one of the older
members of the team he had to take on more responsibility. The Palmer brothers continue
to be a joy to watch and although the brothers Ford still look like they need
to work hard to improve on aspects of their game there is no denying they can
continue to play a big part in the Kingfishers' future. First team manager Nick Oxford was
looking forward to a pre season break but was optimistic about the season ahead
“At Christmas I wouldn't have bet on us staying in this division after getting
4 points from a possible thirty but over the season we’ve improved a lot and
look better organised. We obviously need to take more of our chances but I’d be
more depressed if we were not creating anything and were just lumping the ball
forward, That's not our style and I know that if we can improve our
performances in front of goal we’ve got a chance next season. Club Chairman Lee Robson echoed
Oxford’s sentiments “We’ve made huge strides this season and have been great
ambassadors for Monmouth; but we have still have a lot to do. We can't settle
for mid table and next season I am expecting a promotion challenge. I’ll be
doing all I can to improve things off the pitch and make sure the environment
is as good as it can be for our players and we have to up our game in lots of
areas. At the moment though I’m off for some beers”.
Kingfishers On A Roll
Town Back To Back Wins Push them into Top Half
Llantwit Fardre 1 Monmouth Town 2
Monmouth Town 2 Cwmamman United 1
Monmouth Town's Kingfishers made it sixteen points from eighteen and flew into the top half of the Welsh League Division three for the first time this season with convincing back to back wins against tough opponents last weekend.
A superb first half display against high flying Llantwit Fardre who were looking to put themselves into the top three was enough to see off a more determined Fardre second period fight back. Two superb strikes from Rogers and Bowen and an all round confident passing display made a mockery of any notion that Town were a relegation threatened side a mere two months ago.
With even the watching Llantwit supporters applauding some of the passing and movement of Nick Oxford's youngsters there seemed no doubt that his young charges would return with all three points to Monmouth but if the first half showed how good they could be in an attacking sense the second showed the improvement in organisation and resilience of a side that a few years ago would have folded under the physical pressure of the many high balls they had to deal with . As it was, Aaron Davies was once again superb and commanding and Dan Spence gave more proof, if it were needed, of his claim to be the Town's find of the season. Lee Williams in the town goal although at fault for a rash challenge which gave Llantwit a penalty also staked a further claim to be rightfully recognised as Town's first choice keeper.
It was similar story the following afternoon as the Kingfishers returned to Town after six games on the road and in front of the largest crowd of the season set about making it into the top half of the table by winning against a Cwmamman United team who had enjoyed considerable recent success. Indeed although the Neath based outfit looked to at least want to keep the ball on the floor unlike many visitors but showed little concerted attacking threat and were undone when Bowen latched onto a superb Alderdice through ball and rolled the ball past the keeper for Ford to tap into an empty net. Town should have scored a couple more before the break as first Harris then Wookey spurned good opportunities and Rogers strangely refused to shoot when through on his own. It was a similar story in the second half as Cwmamman looked to be the better side but opportunities were passed up by Ford Rogers and Bowen before Rogers went on a barnstorming run to finish emphatically in the bottom corner.
Cwmamman got back into the game with a deflected long range effort which deceived Williams and Town then seemed to try their best to throw away the points by gifting possession to the opposition. Matthew Tabb also had a great chance to finish off the visitors in the closing minutes but his shot was cleared off the line.
Town are at home again tonight (Wednesday) for their final home game against Ystradgynlais (kick off 6.15) and Manager Nick Oxford wants his team to take their recent form into a promotion challenge next term "We've had a fantastic last couple of months and have lost only four times since the turn of the year, winning twelve. Our main aim is to keep that eighth spot and build on it for next season. I've said many times that we have nothing to fear from anyone in this division and we can certainly challenge next season so long as we keep learning and improving."
20th April 2008
Kingfishers Eye Top Half Finish
15.4 Risca United 2 Monmouth Town 2
17.4 Ystradgynlais 1 Monmouth Town 6
19.4 Newcastle Emlyn 1 Monmouth Town 2
Eight days, four games, seven hundred miles, ten points, fifteen goals scored, four conceded, rounded off with a thumping win at second placed Newcastle Emlyn and Monmouth Town’s young Kingfishers have moved within sight of a top half finish.
The five goal win at Porthcawl last Saturday week was followed by a deserved 2 – 2 draw at Risca which saw Town completely outplayed in the first half to go in level with a Bowen equaliser, his sixth in three games. The second half of that game was mainly Monmouth ‘s but they couldn’t break down a determined Risca defence and they fell behind with just ten minutes remaining when the Town defence failed to deal with a an inviting low free kick which was dispatched at the far post by the onrushing Risca striker. Nothing if not resilient these days, however, and Rogers was upended with five remaining and Wookey did the rest from the penalty spot to snatch a draw for the Town.
Back on the road on Thursday last week with a trip to Ystradgynlais in the freezing Neath Valeys. Two more Wookey goals and one apiece from Bowen, Ford and the Palmer brothers Sam and Dean gave the Kingfishers their highest win of the season. It could and should have been much, much more but for wayward finishing and a referee who took pity on a woeful Ystradgynlais display and finished the game ten minutes early.
And so to Newcastle Emlyn . The long awaited trip to West Wales began with Town at pretty much full strength welcoming back Dan Spence after his drama exams, adding Matthew Tabb and Ashley Ford to the travelling contingent but missing Rogers with a hamstring injury. Town took the game to the title challengers and set about looking for their second double of season having seen off the West Walians at the sportsground in December. As the game wore on it was the home side who looked to have more of the game but spurned good positions and set pieces with poor delivery although Williams continued his fine form in the Town goal and the defensive partnership of Harris and Davies once again held firm and looked capable of dealing with a strangely predictable Newcastle strike force.
The Kingfishers took the lead on 25 minutes when first Palmer, then Bowen had attempts that were blocked before a final effort from Elliot Ford found the corner of the net.
Newcastle came back strongly and again had more of the play but looked least likely to do anything with it until a deflection from their umpteenth free kick sailed past the stranded Williams.
The second half started brightly enough for Town but again they couldn’t hold possession for long enough and the referee , although clearly competent, seemed intent on penalising even the slightest contact. On seventy two minutes a fine free kick from Palmer was met firmly by Alderdice and Town were in the driving seat. The final twenty minutes however proved as difficult to negotiate as the West Wales terrain and Newcastle threw more men forward in search of an equaliser to keep their promotion challenge alive. Some good saves by Williams and great defence coupled with an increasingly erratic and frustrated Newcastle onslaught meant the spoils and the three points came back to Monmouth.
Town Manager Nick Oxford was delighted after a tough week for his charges, “it’s been a great week for the team and the club. The spirit is fantastic and although they had a lot of the game I thought we didn’t look in too much danger. All of the lads have been brilliant this week and I’ve been particularly pleased with Lee Williams who has been superb for us and proved a point to some of the doubters. “
Town are at home this Sunday in a rearranged game against Cwmamman United (kick off 2.30) and conclude their home games next Wednesday when Ystradgynlais are the visitors. (kick off 6.30). Club Chairman. Lee Robson, is hoping for a good turn out from the Town for these two games “It would be great to get a good crowd for out last home games. Hopefully the weather will be good and we’ll be putting on some food after the game and watching Everton v Villa on Sunday followed by the Liverpool Chelsea game on Wednesday. If people haven’t been to the clubhouse for a pint, then why not help us celebrate our first Welsh League season.”
Tuesday 15th April 2008
Of Kingfishers and Cuckoos
Risca United 2 Monmouth Town 2
If after twenty minutes of this Gwent derby Monmouth Town’s Kingfishers had been three or four goals adrift of The Risca Cuckoos there could have been no complaints. Playing at a much higher tempo and with striker Andrew Gay looking to take Town apart Risca, backed by a vociferous crowd, and egged on by the promptings of former Cardiff city duo Ekhart and Wigg were altogether the better side moving the ball more quickly and getting men in support. They were also quite pleasing on the eye. Town for their part struggled to get any decent possession although Bowen did prove to be a good outlet causing United at least to be a little wary of throwing too many men forward.
As it was for all their endeavour all Risca had to show for their dominance was a solitary goal scored when four Town defenders failed to deal with an innocuous situation and Gay’s delightful ball set up his co striker with a confident finish past Williams. Oh. Risca also hit the bar and Williams’ face with a screamer of a volley and missed a series of other chances with half hearted finishing.
As the game wore so the Cuckoos and their supporters wore out and Town started to get back into the game and got some joy down the flanks without really causing any danger until Dean Palmer ran across the face of goal and rasped a shot from 25 yards that the Risca keeper couldn’t hold and Bowen gleefully smashed home an equaliser for his sixth in three games.
Level at half time then and Monmouth emerged for the second half seemingly in much better shape moving the ball better but possibly because they were allowed to. Alderdice went close with a glancing header and Ford had a shot well saved as Risca increasingly resorted to the longer ball in the hope that Gay would retain his work rate and get some joy against a Town defence who looked more comfortable and organised.
A superb move involving Rogers and Bowen was almost completed by Sam Palmer whose delicious volley cannoned off the cross bar and Ford ‘s follow up was well saved.
Barely five minutes later a hopeful out ball was indeed gathered by Gay who invited a challenge by Spence which itself earned a yellow card. The hopeful free kick seemed to take an age to work its way invitingly across the face of goal and the Risca substitute posted his RSVP emphatically at the far post.
Town were stirred into immediate action and a great Alderdice through ball was gathered by Rogers who was bundled over by the goalkeeper and Wookey made no mistake from the spot. Palmer could have won it for the Kingfishers with some clever work easily beating the Risca right back but his drive came back off the upright. On balance a draw was probably a fair result and sets up further tight affairs as both teams look to consolidate a good position in the final table.
Saturday 12th April 2008
Bowen Hat Trick Rocks Seasiders
Porthcawl Town 0 Monmouth Town 5
A Matthew Bowen hat-trick and a brace for Andrew Rogers helped Monmouth Town’s Kingfishers to their best win of the season and eased any lingering relegation worries.
With only one point from the previous nine on offer Town had started to get sucked back into a relegation fight they had looked to have won after an impressive early year run but this win coupled with a superb performance will do wonders for their confidence as they face three games this week ending with a trip to Newcastle Emlyn next Saturday.
On a glorious day at Porthcawl’s Lock Lane ground the first half belonged almost entirely to the Kingfishers as they were quicker to the ball, Smith and Alderdice pulled all of the midfield strings and the pace and strength of Bowen, Ford and Rogers in attack constantly caused problems for the home side.
It took some time however for the Town to break down the Seasiders’ defence as first Dean Palmer went close with a dipping effort and brother Sam’s cheeky backheel was blocked on the line. But Bowen it was, fresh from his two goals the previous week, who broke the deadlock emerging from a goalmouth melee with the vital touch.
Eight minutes later it was two as Smith was hauled down on the edge of the area and Rogers’ powerful strike found the bottom corner. Ford could have made it three before half time with a great run and an unlucky finish that grazed the wrong side of the upright.
The Seasiders came out for the second half looking like they’d had a deserved half time rocket and went about their game with more determination and effort. They were nearly rewarded when their striker found himself alone just inside the area but Lee Williams’ outstretched foot and the crossbar came to the rescue. The Kingfishers lived dangerously for another 20 minutes until a great move eventually found Rogers unmarked and his drive made it three.
Then Porthcawl crumbled. Bowen made it four with another opportunist strike, mysteriously missed another chance before completing his hat-trick with an emphatic turn and finish to round off a great day out for the Kingfishers.
Manager Nick Oxford was delighted with the win and the performance “That’s the best we’ve player for a long time and we were certainly good value for the margin of the victory. I said to the lads that we were getting by on talent but that wouldn’t be enough. We had to have more discipline and do the right things. I think they listened. Lee Williams kept only our second clean sheet of the season and again Dan Spence was superb for us. Andrew Smith had another big game and hopefully we can take this into our games this week”
Saturday 5th April 2008
Bowen Twins Thwart Seven Sisters
Monmouth Town 2 Seven Sisters 2
Two goals from Town striker Mathew Bowen were enough to end his own two month goal drought and secure another valuable point for the Kingfishers Welsh League campaign.
Bowen struck early in the second half with a cool finish to bring Town level after a great through ball from Dan Spence. His second followed a dreadful mistake by the Seven Sisters’ goalkeeper who inexplicably failed to gather a hopeful through ball and allowed a surprised Bowen to rob him and round him.
The first half however was a different story as the struggling Sisters looked to be the better side or at least looked least likely concede a goal as Town failed to get any rhythm into their game. Smith looked back to his best for town with an all action display but seemed to have little or no support from his fellow midfielders who too often turned into tackles or failed to show any grasp of the rudiments of the game.
Despite this Town were in little danger until Rogers poor attacking free kick was turned quickly to the opposite end and as Roberts in the Town goal retreated he lost his bearings and presented the visiting striker a simple opportunity to finish.
The Kingfishers did fashion a few first half openings but poor finishing and wayward crosses that troubled the local anglers more than the keepers angles meant town finished the half in arrears.
Bowen’s strikes hauled town in front and seven sisters looked to heading back to Neath with nothing to show. Manager Oxford looked to secure the points by bringing on sixteen year old Matthew Tabb for his Welsh League debut and Ashley Ford for the visibly wilting Rogers and Cleaves but the gamble failed as the again excellent Spence sliced his clearance and handed the visitors a last throw of the dice. The long throw was almost inevitably nodded on and in and the spoils were shared.
Having looked safe from relegation a few weeks back there is still work to do with the remaining nine games coming in the next five weeks but Oxford was measured “It would have been nice to have taken all three but a draw was probably fair and they needed a win more than we did. We’ve used seven players under 21 and three who can’t even buy a pint after the game so I’m happy that we can give our young lads a run and not get beaten. We’ve got a lot of games coming up and three more wins will make mathematically certain we’re safe so I’m starting to look ahead to next season already”
March 22nd
Dynamos Dim Grim Town
Monmouth Town 0 Pentwyn Dynamos 1
Monmouth Town narrowly slumped to their second successive home defeat against title challengers Pentwyn Dynamo in a dire affair at the Sportsground last week. The Kingfishers were again without five key players though a mixture of injuries and no shows and gave seventeen year old Dan Spence a first start as centre half and included the returning Ross Kennedy on the bench and for most of the game looked relatively comfortablel against a strangely toothless Pentwyn team looking to regain top spot. Admittedly, Town also looked challenged in the molar department as Bowen once again foraged fruitlessly as Town struggled to get any decent ball to the lone front man and often looked unable to get near enough to support him even if they did.
Perhaps it’s a measure of the team’s progress that Town must be disappointed to lose a game they might have won and in truth the midfield battled gamely against a Pentwyn midfield packed with wiser and cannier older heads. Spence looked to the manner born with a polished performance and Dorrington , so often , maligned gave a good account of himself while Harris was his usual robust self.
The first half was really a case of defending well and hoping that some Rogers magic or the pace of Ford could unlock the exposed visiting defence but Ford was well shackled by Fowler the Dynamos left back and Rogers had clearly left his wand in the changing rooms. For the largish crowd is it was no better in the second half with few chances created by either side and the game looked ot be petering out into a scoreless encounter when the wind and a poor throw by Jenkins put Dean Palmer in all sorts of trouble and he gave away a free kick on the edge of the area. The tricky free kick bounced in front of a struggling Jenkins and his fumble was followed up by five Pentwyn attackers with no defender in sight and Stephens poked the ball home.
Town did open the defence a little better after that as Ford joined Bowen in attack but in Bowen’s only real sight of goal he shot straight at the keeper and Palmer’s curling effort with five remaining sailed harmlessly wide. And that was pretty much that but Nick Oxford refused to be too downbeat. “To be honest with the injuries we have and the other players out for a variety of reason we were always going to struggle to get anything out of the game. I thought we deserved a point but no more than that and I was pleased with the way we defended. Jenks has lost some of his confidence after the horrific injury he received against Llantwit Fardre but we have no choice but to soldier on and keep having some faith in our younger players. I want us to be positive and look forward to the April fixtures and to start enjoying ourselves. We can be a bit miserable at times!
Next Saturday Town are away at third from bottom Ystradgynlais and will be looking to leapfrog other Gwent teams in the weeks to come.
8th March 2008
Town Crash in Seven Goal Thriller
Monmouth Town 3 Penrhiwceiber Rangers 4
Monmouth Town narrowly lost out to high flying Penrhiwceiber in a see saw encounter at the Sportsground last Saturday. In blustery conditions The Kingfishers took an early lead when a flighted free kick by Rogers from twenty five yards deceived Dan Field in the Rangers goal and wafted into the top corner.
The early exchanges were dominated by Monmouth as the visitors struggled to maintain any real pressure. Town even passed up a number of decent chances as first Palmer then Bowen failed to get any real contact on two free kicks by Rogers. Indeed it looked like set pieces were going to be the only way through for either side until 28 minutes into the first half when a clear foul on Dan Spence went unpunished and Penrhiwceiber took advantage of the extra men pushed forward and equalised emphatically.
Just two minutes later another decision went against Town as a ball that again appeared to be out of play was played inside and a rash challenged produced a free kick on the edge of the Town penalty area. A gleeful striker snapped up a loose ball from the resulting melee to make it 2 – 1 but as half time approached another storming run by Bowen was brought to an abrupt end with a needless challenge. Wookey although making a hash of the penalty brought parity as he bounced home the rebound.
The Kingfisher defence didn’t seem to have emerged from the dressing room for the second half as the visitors struck immediately to take a 3 – 2 lead as a Penrhiwceiber winger promenaded though the home defence to finish at Jenkins near post.
Justin Harris then converted a good header form a corner kick just two minutes later and Town had time to waste a few more decent openings, once when great work by Bowen finished hitting the upright, before conceding the winner with fifteen minutes remaining from a near post corner.
Town Boss Nick Oxford was not too unhappy with the performance but conceded that lapses in concentration cost his side dear “A couple of decisions could and maybe should have gone for us but we have to make sure we keep playing to the whistle. Again we came out slowly and paid a price for that but overall I thought we played really well and deserved something from the game. I think we moved the ball better than we have for a long time and some of our play was very pleasing on the eye especially when we got down the flanks.
There’s always something we can do better but our general team play has improved a lot and it was hard to pick out which team was challenging from promotion. They were probably just a bit sharper than us in some key areas and were one of the better team to have come here in recent weeks but we can work on that and get better. “
This Saturday Town are away at struggling Abertillery but the following week entertain league leaders Pentwyn Dynamo at the Sportsground.
1st March 2008
Kingfishers On Song but Saints Fail to March
Monmouth Town 5 Merthyr Saints 2
Its been many months since Monmouth Town's Kingfishers delivered a stress free afternoon for their supporters but this was as close it gets as two goals by the returning Simon Wookey, a fine header by Jack Alderdice and one a piece by Cleaves and Sam Palmer ensured a relaxing final 20 minutes at the Sportsground.
It didn’t start well though as despite looking very comfortable against a game but ordinary Merthyr outfit Dorrington's sliced clearance gifted the Saints a lead after only 7 minutes. Five minutes later however Town were level as Bowen was upended in the penalty area and Wookey drove home the penalty. He had hardly finished celebrating his return to first team action when a good effort by Smith was bizarrely ignored by the visiting 'keeper and as the ball rebounded from the post he snaffled the lead for the Kingfishers.
On twenty five minutes a superb free kick by Rogers was converted confidently by Alderdice from six yards but when another defensive lapse presented Merthyr with another goal it seemed nailed on that the second half was going to be just as erratic as Town veered from being very good to being very bad indeed.
Indeed Saints cam out looking quicker in thought and deed and might have made more of a number of promising openings but Roberts in the Town goal looked assured until replaced on the hour by Jenkins, returning after his horrific injury. Jenkins picked up his form where he had left off and looked to get Town moving quickly form the back and as the game wore the quality of stand in captain Dominy and young Dan Spence looked like deflating a young Saints team. All it needed was a superb pass form the tireless Bowen to be met first time by Cleaves to give some breathing space and set up Town's first double of then season. After that it was game over as Saints visibly wilted and had no real answer to the composure of the town defence and the trickiness of their attack and on 80 minutes Sam Palmer converted his eight goal in a dozen games with an emphatic drive into the roof of the net.
23rd February 2008
Palmer Goal Streak ends Morriston resistance.
Monmouth Town 2 Morriston Town 0
Goals from Andrew Rogers and Sam Palmer, getting his seventh goal in 11 matches, ended spirited resistance from relegation haunted Morriston Town in last Saturday's Welsh League clash.
Town have hauled themselves away from relegation with 21 points from their last 33 but still needed to put in a decent performance against a Morriston side looking to extend their 57 year tenure as a Welsh League Club.
Town were missing the injured Davies, out with a torn thigh, and reshaped with Jack Alderdice switching to centre half and Smith returning to partner Dominy and Cleaves in midfield. The first half hour was dominated by the Kingfishers but as so often the Swansea outfit defended doggedly and restricted clear cut chances but offered no real threat of their own. The final quarter of an hour of the first half however was a different story as Town lost the grip on the game and allowed Morriston to come back strongly and only good goalkeeping from Roberts and profligacy form the Morriston strikers kept the game level at the break. It was a similar story in the second half as town were decent enough but showed little real quality with the ball although some passages were pleasing on the eye. One particular burst by Rogers when he embarrassed a couple of defenders were a portent of things to come as shortly afterwards a good break by Bowen released a pass across the face of goal that Palmer gleefully dispatched from one yard out.
It should then have been a matter of how many more Monmouth could score but again the visitors regrouped sending three men up front and causing a number of problems until Rogers finished the resistance with a calm finish five minutes from time.
The win puts Town eight points clear of the drop zone and on current form would have to do something of Devon Loch proportions to be in any danger come the end of April. Manager Nick Oxford, however, was not getting carried away. "We were Ok. Nothing more, nothing less. No real bad performances but John Roberts has improved massively over the last few weeks and he saved us at the end. Andrew Rogers had a really good game and now doesn't seem to mind doing some of the hard yards. He even won a defensive header! I know we can keep improving but we have to increase our energy levels and impose ourselves a lot more on teams."
This Saturday Town entertain Merthyr Saints at the Sportsground (kick off 2pm) who will be looking for revenge for a 4 - 1 drubbing handed out by the Kingfishers in November. A win that ended their losing streak and put them on the road to recovery.
16th February 2008
Kingfishers Collapse in Cynon Valley
Cwmaman Institute 2 Monmouth Town 1
Two minutes of madness straddling half time was enough to condemn Town to a defeat against high flying Cwmaman on a glorious day in the Cynon Valley. One goal ahead after twenty minutes following a flowing Kingfishers move finished by Sam Palmer Monmouth were under no real threat from a decent looking Cwmaman team who had won their last three games to put themselves in a promotion position. Enter Jack Alderdice’s right boot flooring a home striker moving away from goal gifting Cwmaman a penalty on the stroke of half time converted by player manager Price. Top that with a route one goal straight from the kick off of the second half and that pretty much sums up a disappointing day out.
In fairness neither side looked to have brought their football radar as pass after pass went astray and the game became dominated by defences on top of their game and rarely under threat. The Kingfishers were handed a lifeline on the hour when Cwmaman right back sought retribution on Alderdice with a right hook and duly received his marching orders. The initiative, however, was handed back to Cwmaman when barely a minute after sending on Bowen for Ford, Davies fell victim to a groin injury which threatens to out him action for six weeks. With only the 51 year old Philpotts named as the second travelling sub, manager Oxford was left to rue his decision to allow additional players to run out for the reserves.
Rogers missed a great opening for the Kingfishers latching on to Bowen’s superb through ball but inexplicably failing to shoot and allowing previously beaten defenders to cover and Cwmaman keeper Truelove to smother the ball. Cwmaman striker Airy also wasted a glorious chance rattling the side netting form six yards out. The game petered out into the inevitable result to move Cwmaman up to second spot and Monmouth to think of might have been. Manager Oxford was disappointed with the way his team had failed to make any real inroads “We just didn't come out in the second half and barely turned up in the first half, it was a great playing surface but we just couldn't get our passing going. I don’t think anybody did really well although Jack (Alderdice) was unfortunate with the penalty as otherwise he had a good game. Losing Azzy (Davies) is also a huge blow to us but we‘ve shown we can cope when we miss some of our bigger players and with Smith and Palmer due back and Wookey on the road to recovery we should be fine.
On Saturday Town are at home to strugglers Morriston Town in a classic six pointer (kick off 2pm).
Oxford continued “If we win on Saturday there’ll be too much daylight between us and the bottom two and although I’m not complacent we can think about a mid table finish. We need everyone to turn up and be firing on all cylinders”
9th February 2008
Any Striker You Like So Long As Its Ford.
Monmouth Town 2 AFC Llwydcoed 1
No Bowen, Roberts back in goal having a stormer, 1 nil down, Ford 1 - 1 Palmer gets the winner to make it the first back to back to winning run of the season and make it 18 points from 27 since the turn of October.
Good work fellas!
Kingfishers Composure Seals Win
Monmouth Town 2 Llantwit Fardre 0
26th January, 2008
Town Nipped By the Buds
Monmouth Town 1 Aberbargoed Buds 2
Monmouth Town’s six match unbeaten run came to abrupt end with a below par display against their Gwent rivals Aberbargoed. Town and Aberbargoed started the match level on points and goal difference with both teams looking for win to ease relegation worries and it was Monmouth who started the brightest retaining most of the possession and territory but only threatening occasionally. On a more compact pitch however the Buds looked the physically stronger team getting the better of tackles and ruffling more of the free flowing football from the Kingfishers who went ahead on 22 minutes as Bowen latched on to a through ball form Alderdice and lifted deftly over the advancing Kirkwood in the Aberbargoed goal.
Inn a game never destined to be a classic there were chances for both sides as first Bowen steered his shot too close to the keeper and then Davies cleared brilliantly from his own line after Jenkins had been beaten to a cross. Town just about deserved their first half lead but a more motivated Buds team took the game to the Town at the start of the second half and equalised when Duggan's relatively tame shot from distance seemed to deceive Jenkins who could only watch as the ball crept in at his right hand post.
The rest of the half was more grit than guile as Aberbargoed kept to their game plan of ruffling Kingfisher feathers and out fighting a in increasingly frustrated midfield. A clear chance did fall to Ford but with the goal at his mercy and just six yards out he somehow managed to take the paint off the Chairman’s’ car which was foolishly to the side of the goal.
As the game neared its end Oxford withdrew Bowen and Cleaves in an attempt to inject a different approach but just minutes later Jenkins failed to deal with a long throw in and the click on allowed Mazurczak to gleefully hook the ball home to put the Buds in the driving seat.
With Bowen now withdrawn an increasingly toothless Monmouth failed to penetrate a more determined Aberbargoed back line and the Buds took the points back to the Gwent valleys. Manager Oxford was philosophical after tasting his first defeat as manager “We had much the better of the first half but didn’t put any daylight between us. They came out much the stronger in the second half and we looked sluggish in some of our approach. They were much more up for the physical contest and that’s something we have to think about. That said I’m disappointed not devastated. We‘ve had a good run and we don’t become rubbish again with one defeat. Big game next week and we have to be up for it.”
5th January 2008
I wouldn't rather be Emlyn
Monmouth Town 3 Newcastle Emlyn 2
Monmouth's Kingfishers extended their unbeaten run to six games with a superb victory over title challengers Newcastle Emlyn in a tense game at the Sportsground last Saturday. Having made a three hour trip from West Wales Newcastle Emlyn looked minibus lagged as Town took the game to a side beaten only twice all season and looking for a win which would take them back to the top of the league.
Elliot Ford, drafted in for the flu ridden Rogers created havoc every time he got the ball and Alderdice, Cleaves and Dominy bossed a sticky midfield allowing Palmer and Bowen to capitalise on Ford trickery.
The first goal on 23 minutes however was one of the most bizarre seen at the Sportsground in many years as a fairly hopefully punt toward the visitors' goal was ignored as players pleaded with the referee for a free kick. As he waved play on the goalkeeper completely forgot to stop the bobbling ball as it rolled over the line. Just five minutes later Newcastle's keeper nearly made amends as he saved Palmer's poor penalty only to see the rebound gobbled up by Palmer for his second.
On thirty five minutes Bowen's turn and shot put the Kingfishers 3 - 0 up and within sight of their first home league win of the season. Newcastle rallied briefly in the latter stages of the first half in which they had been comprehensively outplayed and on the stroke of half time a free kick form 25 yards flew past Jenkins in the Town goal to set up a tense second half.
Newcastle emerged for the second half with a line up that was reshaped to cater for Ford's first half performance and they were rewarded only five minutes in as Jenkins parried onto the bar but Emlyn striker Morgan blasted through a thicket of players to make it 3 -2.
Town then withstood a barrage of baffling free kicks, threatening occasionally on the break and, as the home supporters urged the referee to call a halt, Jenkins had time to save the three points for town with a superb save at the feet of Davies. Town Manager Nick Oxford was delighted at the result "We thoroughly deserved to win the game and with our confidence so high I fully expected that we would. It was a blow that Rogers couldn’t start but Elliot Ford was superb again and Jenks had a good start for us in goal. Our defending in the second half was also fantastic and everyone is now working hard in all areas of the pitch to make sure we don't lose games and we protect any lead we have. We've got competition for places all over the team and although that makes it harder for me that's the way it has to be if we are going to thrive in the Welsh League. "