Azzy Azzy Azzy...Oi Oi Oi
Monmouth Town 2 Pontyclun 1
6th March 2010

A regulation first goal of the season from defender Aaron Davies sealed a vital win for the Kingfishers as they fought back in the second half from a goal down to climb to seventh place and keep one eye on the promotion spots. Bizarrely with eight for the drop this season it also soothed relegation fears as Pontyclun were immediately below the Town before the weekend fixtures. Unlike the 'goalfests' of previous weeks the first half however was a seriously dull affair with neither side looking capable of creating enough chances to break the stale mate.

Playing on the narrower Pavilion pitch because of a fixture clash with Rugby Town found it harder to get their game going and in form striker Phil Tranter found himself well shackled and new boy Nick Harrhy looked neat and tidy but also found space at a premium as he looked to adjust to a six month lay off. Town had also been forced to reshape at the back as Andrew Smith collected an ankle injury in training and Dan Spence's season had been ended with his broklen ankle from the previous week. It meant a first start fot sixteen year old Tom Wareham and a centre half berth for influential midfielder Ross Kennedy.

Pontyclun took the lead after just three minutes of a the second half capitalising on a slip by Town 'keeper John Roberts and the Kingfishers were staring down the barrel of another home defeat. Although Tranter and Bowen worked hard enough and Harrhy and Alderdice looked the more accomplished midfield men the stubborn and experienced Pontyclun defence looked relatively comfortable. The introduction of Elliot Ford on the hour changed all that! Perhaps feeling aggrieved at being left out to accommodate Harrhy's debut Ford ripped into the Pontyclun rearguard with a point to prove. And prove it he did. Harrhy suddenly looked liberated, Bowen marauded with more menace as Ford's pace unsettled not just the full backs but the entire team. It was his run and cross from the right that was finished in Crouch style by Bowen. Alderdice drew a fine save from the visiting 'keeper and Harrhy's delivery from a succession of corners and free kicks led inevitably to the downward header from Davies to give the Town the lead on 72 minutes.

For the last fifteen it was all Town and credit to Ponty for holding out and even going close a couple of times as Town yet again kept it interesting for the supporters. It's now 7 points from ten for Town and Town boss Barry Burns was pleased with the result "We were quiet in the first half and struggled to find any openings. It was obvious we had to change something once we'd conceded and it was great to have options from  the bench. Elliot's attitude was first class and altough he was very dissapointed not to start he reacted superbly for the team and won us the game!"


Town Give It The Full Ponty
Monmouth Town 3 Pontypridd Town 3
27th February 2010

After a week ensconsed in a West African Hotel where the most exciting thing on the menu was ..well what was on the menu...this was a juddering return to Blighty for this correspondent and a Welsh League encounter pitting table topping experienced campaigners of Pontypridd Town against the Division's top scorers.

The result  was a rip roaring, fiull blooded affair that was probably not for the purist but was certainly one to remember as Town ripped into Ponrty from the off and never let up. Ponty played their full part in the spectacle and at the end the two teams were trading blows like two drunks in a car park at closing time as the game could have gone one way or the other but like the drunks ended in a crumpled heap of blood, sweat and beers.

Town started by the far the brighter and as early as the second minute Bowen had a shot cleared off the line but Sam Palmer made no mistake with just six minutes gone converting a fine move down the right for his fourth in five games. Pontypridd responded positively and put togerther some moves that showed why they are title favourites but for all the slickness didn't really penetrate a resolute back four marshalled superbly by Kennedy.

On the half hour however, a free kick was conceded cheaply and received much more expensively as a Pontypridd defender moved up to head unopposed beyond Roberts and into the far corner.

As the pitch deteriorated the shape of the game and the referees grasp of it went with it and what had begun as a grown up quarrel started to resemble a series of school yard spats. Some semblance of order was restored as Tranter converted from close range in a carbon copy of Town's first goal. Roberts also did well with a few saves to send Town in 2 - 1 at the break.

Town may be the Divsion's top scorers but they also have the divisions' third worst defensive record so the home supporters never really beklive that a one gaol lead will be enough and 20 minutes of frazzled nerves  were finally ened when the equaliser came as expected from aanothe set peivece. This time a corner thudded home from close range.

Then it looked much more likely that Ponty would prove too strong. Credit the Town's youngsters who were driven on by Alderdice not shirking any of the tough tackling that was necessary as both sides went toe to toe on a pudding of a pitch. Bowen was taken out by a scything blow and for once the referee applied common sense and allowed Ford to stride on and strike an upright when he should really have converted. No matter as Ford's good work generally was rewarded with just two minutes of normal time remaining crossing for Tranter to score with a rare header for his 22nd goal in 22 games this campaign and his 36th in 40 games for the Town. Some record.

Like a large umbrella in a heavy wind a Monmouth lead is difficult to hold onto and into injury time Pontypridd were allowed time to play around with the ball on the Town's flanks find space to cross, lose makers and score their third headed goal of the game.   In th cold light of day a draw against such an experienced and competent side wh9o had gioven the Kingfishers such a lesson back in October could be taken as a good result but Town's players and supporters will know that they were there for the taking.

Ten Man Town Struggle In the Mud
Monmouth Town 1 South Gower 1
6th February 2010

Monmouth Town's Kingfishers returned to home action for the first time since early December but failed to grab a victory against bottom but one Welsh League newcomers South Gower.

Forced to change formation to cater for the absence of influential sweeper Andrew Smith and speedster Elliot Ford Town's attempt to secure a vital win was further hampered by the dismissal on 38 minutes of Dean Palmer for using foul and abusive language - a red card that meant the withdrawal of top scorer Phil Tranter as Manager Burns and Pick looked to shore up what had already looked a shaky defence. At a stroke however the Town's attacking strength was undermined and on a pitch that would make a watering hole in the Serengetti look like a bowls green any attempt at passing the ball quickly and with certainty was rendered impossible. Goals were always going to be at a premium. 

True, Tranter and Bowen had gone close in the the first half denied by good saves by Honey-Jones and a mazy run by Sam Palmer had ended with a powder puff finish and the Gower men had let the Kingfishers off the hook with wayward finishing but both teams looked woefully out of sorts as the game lacked any real shape or discipline.

With only three minutes of the second half gone Alderidce was adjudged to have been pushed in the area and Sam Palmer's spot kick was emphatic. The game ebbed and flowed as the ball bobbled and jigged its merry dance and it was always likely that Town would need two goals to get all three points. And so it proved as the defence was undone by a neat through ball and Roberts was beated by a toe poke.

A coupe of other chances were passed up by both sides as the tireless Bowen ploughed a lone furrow and tried his best to grab a foothold that could lift Town back into the game but it was all to no avail as both sides settled for a scrappy point apeice.

Town co boss Robin Pick summed it up "Ten men. 50 minutes. Hard work." Not that easy on the eye either Robin.

 

Kingfishers Crash To Late Corus Harmony
Corus Steel 2 Monmouth Town 1

30th January 2010

Monmouth Town's Kingfishers were in action for the first time in 2010 and the first time for seven weeks but found the steel of Corus too hot to handle in the shadow of the rolling mills of Port Talbot.

The early exchanges were scrappier than Steptoe's yard however with both teams looking even more rusty after the long snow enforced lay off as passes went astray and no one managing to get a grip of proceedings. A cheap free kick on 17 minutes was floated over a curious Town defence a Steel head did the rest to put Corus in the lead.

Unfortunately for the supporters of both sides this didn't signal an improvement in the football and apart from a half decent shout for a Monmouth penalty, a bit of off the ball argy bargy and a missed sitter for Corus the most interesting thing on offer was calculating the effect on the climate of whatever it is that is spewed out of the giant chimneys that nudge the compact setting of Corus's ground.

On a freezing day a bit of global warming would have been nice but Monmouth started the second half a team transformed and pummelled a visibly wilting Corus side who probably thought that on the first half showing the game was in the bag. But for all the possession chances were still at a premium and the home keeper was having a fine game denying Ford and generally handling danger confidently and competently.

Sam Palmer left footed volley from the edge of the area on 68 minutes levelled the scores and if anything at that time the Kingfishers looked well placed to take all three points. Inexplicably from then till the end of the game it was all Corus as Town failed to capitalise on the momentum they had built and at times were lucky not have conceded a number of times as Smith and co defended superbly.

With barely three minutes remaining and a point looked a safely tucked away Alderdice gambled with a challenge and lost and the Corus substitute used the time he had bought, composed himself, took aim and drilled a 25 yard strike in off an upright for the winner.

You Wareham Well
Saturday 12th December 2009
Monmouth Town 5 Goytre 2

A late goal from 16 year old substitute Tom Wareham sealed an emphatic win for the Kingfishers in a pulsating game at the Sportsground which also meant they completed a season double over their Monmouthshire rivals and went above them in the table. The game was also notable for Town missing two penalties; the first after 3 minutes when Tranter was upended in the box and the usually reliable Smith hit his spot kick too near the keeper and the second as Tranter stepped up late on to complete his hat trick only to see his effort superbly saved.

In between times the two sides  had gone at each other knowing that promotion spots are on offer and County bragging rights were up for grabs. For long periods Goytre were the better side with better movement and more ability to keep possession and find their team mates with shorter, crisper passes. As so often the game is capable of turning such unimportant positives on their head and it was the returning Alderdice's head which did the damage converting a simple chance from a free kick after Ford had resumed his torment of the Goytre left back which had ended in a red card for the hapless defender back in August. It took a further four fouls from the putative stopper harassing Ford  like a dog chasing a postman with bacon trousers before he earned his yellow card.

By that time Goytre were undeservedly level but coming back into the game and looking to go in at half time on the ascendency when Tranter struck just before half time finishing a great move and pass by Bowen before Roberts tipped superbly over from a free kick.

The second half again saw too many Monmouth passes go astray and Goytre failing to make the most of their know how and possession but Ford showed what direct running could do ripping through the Goytre defence to draw a save from the keeper but bundling in the rebound.  Tranter was more rumbustuous with his second blasting past the keeper from a tight angle to end the game as a contest. Ford was then brought down in the box and up stepped Tranter to fail from the spot before Tom Wareham announced his entry onto the Monmouth scene refusing to let a ball go out in the corner, gathering and driving a  shot which went in at the near post.

The Goytre substitute showed Monmouthians how to take penalties by slotting the third spot kick of the game to give the final scoreline a veneer of respectabliity for Goytre and accuracy for the rest of us.

Town co-boss Robin Pick was left to comment "We weren't at our best today but at other times we've dominated and got nothing. I know which I'd prefer. We're a bit short on confidence in some areas and our decision making is a bit off but we've got talent thoughout the team and were derfeidng better although it would have been nice to shut up shop at 5 - 1. So long as we keep working for each other we'll be there or thereabouts at the end. "

Next Saturday Town entertain Seven Sisters at the Sportsgound Kick off 2pm.
 

No Buddy Good
Saturday 5th December 2009
Monmouth Town 1 Aberbargoed Buds 2

Two goals from Dean Randall in two silly minutes just before half time secured the points for Aberbargeod as once again a host of missed chances and a lack of match sharpness cost Monmouth Town dear and condemned them to another home defeat.

Back in action for the first time in four weeks on a soft pitch both teams looked like they were going to need time to settle back into the sport let alone the game itself as passes went astray and composure was a stranger to most players. The ealry exchanges were largely forgettable but Ford should have done better with a free header and both sides seemed hurried when given sight of goal. Not so Tranter on the half hour who capitalised on good work by Bowen to drive his finish high into the net. 

As the half neared its end Town could have been forgiven for thinking they had withstood most of what the Buds could throw at them; as they did they were hit with a two goal salvo as they dithered and slithered in their own goal mouth seemingly unable to decide what to do with the round thing in front of them.  The answer they didn't find was "kick the bloody thing!"  Randall had that one!

The second ninety was largely dominated by the Kingfishers with dangerous direct Buds breakaways that fashioned good openings but lacked a finish. Town for their part approached well but lacked the calmness in front of goal that could and should have at least earned a point as a number of shots sailed high and wide and worried the woodwork. Neville Harris's introduction added a bit of guile and although Tranter and Bowen huffed and puffed Town's attacking play was too predictable for the Division's meanest defence. 

Town End Cup Run
Nathaniel League Cup Round 2
Saturday 7th November 2009
Monmouth Town 2 AFC Llwydcoed 3

Monnmouth Town's fleeting interest in the Nathaniel League Cup was doused as they came out second best in a 5 goal, 120 minute end to end game at the Sportsground.

Welcoming last year's third division champions who had comprehensively beaten them back in April Town could have been forgiven for feeling a little nervous especially as inspirational defender Aaron Davies failed a late fitness test. They needn't have however as the early exchanges proved Lewis a more than able deputy returning from his own back injury and Tranter and Bowen going close before Tranter finally converted on 14 minutes. A few more chances went begging in the rest of the half and 'Coed were working therir way back into the game but the Kingfishers were good value for their half time lead, but in modern football parlance you were left with the impression that Town had only "equalised first!

And so it proved following an early second half exchange which saw Roberts handling outside of his area trying to deal with a seriously uneven bounce. From the free kick Williams scored with a thumping header.

The Kingfishers however kept plugging away with Alderdice growing in stature and Ford starting to stretch his legs but they were undone by a great piece of skill and a sumptuous finish by Chris Vardon capitalising on some missed tackles.

One sensed that extra time was in the offing as Town continued to make good combinations and Ford finally made the most of a defensive blunder to head home. 'Coed then had a man sent off for the third time in three visits but Monmouth couldn't press home the advantage.

It was similar story through extra time as Monmouth failed to finish off great moves and good possession. Tranter had a goal chalked off for offside, Harris and Alderidce hit the woodwork before Tricky Dicky Dennis turned and spanked one over a bemused Roberts for what proved the winner.

Town had however got over the performance from the previous week and Barry Burns was a more upbeat manager "A good performance which again if we took our chances we could and should have won. But I'm happy that we more than matched a good 'Coed outfit. We've got a week off now but I'll be looking to build on the great attitude of the lads and return in a fortnight firing on all cylinders"

All Trick and No Treat In Hallowe'en Horror Show
Saturday 31st October 2009
Pontypridd Town 4 Monmouth Town 1

Monmouth Town's Kingfishers were handed a rare footballing lesson as a resurgent Pontypridd Town bettered them at every aspect of play in a Halloween horror show for Town.

Starting the day in third place with ambitions to claim top spot Town's trip to Ponty was a bridge too far in any language as too many players had off days and Pontypridd's experience, nous and desire simply blew the Kingfishers away.The first half was a horribly one sided affair and to go in at half time only 2 - 0 down could be considered a blessing of sorts as Town could not possibly have done any worse. For their part Pontypridd carved the Town defence open at will, aided by basics errors and an inability to keep possession under any sort of pressure and should have done better with the chances that fell their way.

The second half was a more even contest; not even, just more so as Monmouth mustered some attacking threat but continued to be guilty of giving the ball away and ball watching as they were undone by the superior movement and passing of the men in black. On the hour a promising attack down the Town's right eneded with a swift counter attack and at 3 - 0 it was game over. Ford did get one back and Dan Spence missed a glaring opportunity before Pontyridd wrapped up the nightmare, stealing the ball in the Town half and finishing confidently.

Town Co-boss Barry Burns was down but not out after the game "We've been beaten by a much better side today and had a bad day ourselves. Its hard to take any positives out of the game except to say that we don't become a bad team overnight and we have to see what character we have to bounce back!"

Fords Deliver Dynamo Scrappage Scheme
Saturday 24th October 2009
Pentwyn Dynamo 3 Monmouth Town 6

A wonderful, thunderful left foot volley from Elliot Ford and a sumptuous finish by younger brother Ashley from a great move consigned struggling Pentgwyn Dynamos to the scrapheap and launched Monmouth's Kingfishers into third place in the table.

Travelling without skipper Alderdice and the injured Dean Palmer Town were still looking for their fifth win on the road but started badly as a remodelled midfield struggled to get to grips with a lumpy pitch and unfamiliar surroundings. Indeed Town went behind to a penalty in the 12th minute awarded for handball against Smith by a clearly unsighted referee who refused to be handicapped by this minor disadvantage and showed initiative by using his ears to make the decision.

It did however sting the Kingfishers into some sort of action and Harris, making his first start of the season, started to remember his clear talent for the game by ghosting in and around the middle areas linking play with Kennedy, Smith and Ford also finding their feet and more importantly those of their team mates. Palmer finished off a great move getting on the end of an Elliot Ford cross to equalise on 17 minutes.

Another patchy period followed but the final twenty minutes of the half Town played possibly some of their best football of the season keeping the bal extremely well and dragging Pentwyn around the park to find openings at will. That the only goal they had to show for it was another great efforts by Tranter owed a lot to profligacy and even more to some great stops by the home 'keeper who was turning in a man of the match perfomance, such was the Kingfishers dominance.

The second half started in the same manner with Town rampant. Harris finished a passing move with a sweeping strike over the keeper before Elliot Ford's thunderbolt made it four crashing in off the bar passed a shell shocked keeper. Town responed by replacing Tranter with the popular 'Chewy' Lewy to earn his reward for good work in the reserves and he responded well with a  very lively cameo starting the move that led to the fifth from Ashley Ford and having a hand in the sixth scored by Bowen after a great piece of play by fellow debutant 16 year old Tom Wareham. Wareham was a revelation in his first game looking to the manor born and providing some great inspriation for the rest of Town's youth teams and making his mark with some great defending headers strong runs down the right flanks and fearless tackling.

In between times Pentwyn got a goal back with a cool finish from the edge of the box and frustratingly for the second week running Town lost concentration and allowed a full pitch length run to go unchecked and rewarded with a well placed finish beyond Roberts returning to the Town goal for the rested Campbell.

Town are now up to third and in the promotion spots but joint Barry Burns insisted it was too early to be indulging in such talk "It was another good win and performance for the middle part of the game and good to see that we can cope with leading players missing. There were some big pluses for us today not least Neville Harris returning and Robbo did well in goal, Chewy and Tom have also done themelves no harm at all with their attitudes and performances. But we must keep working hard in training and on Saturdays to get our rewards. No-one in this league is going to lie down for us."


Baby Faced Tranter Seals the Points
Saturday 17th October 2009
Monmouth Town 5 Cwmamman United 2

Phil Tranter's second hat trick of the season perfectly illustrated the strikers' art coming as it did with a left foot, right foot, mid drift combiantion which ended a perfect week for the new dad and the Kingfishers who secured thier first home points of the season.

Monmouth Town have now won six of their last seven games and have moved to joint third in the league and priming themselves to be serious challengers as the season progresses.

This was by far the most comfortable of recent victories against a strangely subdued fourth placed Cwmamman side enjoying plenty of possession but showing little creativity in the final third.

Town went ahead on 11th minutes as Tranter latched onto a long ball and took the advancing 'keeper by surprise by letting his shot go early and it arched into the far corner. Town then gained a real grip ,of the game and although Cwmamman were still competitive at this point didn't seem likely to find a way through with Smith, Davies and Spence once again competent and confident and looking to spring Ford and Alderdice at every opprortunity.

On 32 minutes however an innocuous attack was running its course when the ball was turned toward the far post and an umnmarked striker poked the ball beyond Campbell for a easy equaliser. Just before half time however Sam Palmer blasted in from 18 yards to restore the deserved lead for the Kingfishers.

The second half promised more of the same as Kennedy came into his own and the tireless Bowen began to make inroads and Ford was once again a threat down the right flank. The third goal came in surprising manner as the Cwmamman play maker tried a cross field pass which was expertly cut out by Tranter and his attempted lob ended up in the bottom corner.  Smith converted a penalty soon after but Cwmamman responded with a simple attack down the right as a midfiled player was allowed to run the whole length of the pitch unchallneged, fall over and still get his shot in at Campbell's near post. Tranter however was not finshed and completed a his perfect week guiding a Bowen effort in with his stomach. There was still time for Cwmamman to have a headed goal disallowed and to miss a penalty but this was  thoroughly deserved win for the Town.

The reserves kept up theri imopresive start to the season with a point away at top of the table Caldicot Town. A solitary strike by Craig Leiws seemed enough to get all three points but Caldicot levelled in injury time to stay at the top with the Kingfishers breathing down their necks in second with a game in hand.

Kingfishers Up For The County
Gwent Senior Cup
Monday 12th October 2009
Newport County 0 Monmouth Town 2

An Andrew Smith penalty and a superb Matthew Bowen goal were enough to seal a famous win for Monmouth Town against Newport County and clinch a semi final place in the Gwent Senior Cup.

This was the first ever competitive meeting of the two sides in any competition which is historically significant given 'the Exiles' birth as the Newport and Monmouth County AFC and some shared history with former Newport players being loaned out to Monmouth Town in the 50's and 60's, helping Town to dominate Monmouthshire competitions in their heyday.

The progress of Town over the past five years from underachieving Gwent County Division Three side to a solid and competitive Welsh league club was underlined by the tie itself and the scoreline which, despite the Exiles fielding a virtual youth side, was achieved with much to spare.

Town were happy to concede possession for much of the game knowing that to do otherwise on a big pitch against mobile, technically adept opponents was asking for trouble and so the early exchanges were cagey.

'Tricky' Tranter who became a father for the second time later in the evening, (though not, it must be stressed, as a result of any slap dash defending), got clear three times but had too much to do and saw his long range efforts easily dealt with. Ford showed glimpses of the pace that was to be used to more devastating effect in the second half and Alderdice and Kennedy were once more providing a semblance of a platform to launch some forays into the Exile territory.

Tranter it was however who wriggled free again on 23 minutes and was adjudged to have been pulled back in the area. Smith did the rest from the spot for his first of the season.

The rest of the half was significant only for a couple of bookings and the fact that County for all their youthful endeavour seemed less likely to equalise unless as a result of stupidity from Town….something that hasn’t been entirely eradicated from their play.

The second half settled into much the same pattern although Ford had begun to show some signs that he could do some real damage if given more freedom to attack. The case for the attack was proven in the 70th minute as he picked up the ball on the half way line, burnt past four defenders and rolled a pass into the path of Bowen who scooped his finish into the roof of the net and sent the travelling support if not into rapture then at least to some place where enthusiastic clapping and whooping and hollering is positively encouraged. Why, there was even a chant of 'Top of the league? You’re having a laugh" which is about as raucous as a Monmouth football crowd gets.

County again applied plenty of pressure but had little in the way of creativity to break down the older and wiser Town defence again well marshalled by former County player Smith and with super displays by Spence, Davies and another clean sheet for Campbell.

It was left to Town Chairman Lee Robson to sum up the mood in the Monmouth camp "I'm immensely proud of everything associated with Monmouth Town Football Club tonight. It's taken a lot of hard work on and off the pitch to even get in a position where we can be in the same competition as Newport County and, yes, it is a very special occasion for us and I make no apologies for that. We’re at home on Saturday and if we can keep up our good form then we can kick from here and start to challenge on a number of fronts. There’s plenty more where this came from."

Fun Bus No Bogeyman As Town Win Away Again
Saturday 10th October
South Gower 0 Monmouth Town 1

At about 11.30 every other Saturday a red mini bus disappears over the Monnow bridge into deepest darkest Wales carrying Monmouth's footballing finest on their latest Welsh League adventure. It returns 10 hours later carrying the same dozen people, most much worse for wear, but with the added cargo of three points plundered on the road which will stand the Kingfishers in good stead for the winter travails ahead. The 'Fun Bus' as it has been coined has become the lucky omen for the Town, so much so, that it is seriously being considered as transport for home games where the Town have so far failed to pick up a single point. 

This, however, was a relatively comfortable victory, Tranter's solitary effort being enough to win a game that should have been signed and sealed before half time but which again provided enough scary moments to receed the finger nails of the travelling support and management.

South Gower started much the brighter, hardly surprising given the two and half hour schlepp, causing some problems down the Town right flank. Having weathered that early flurry Tranter and Bowen started to create a few openings and Alderdice, Kennedy and Palmer got a grip in midfield. Town went close a number of times before Tranter's run and strike gave the Town the lead on 23 minutes. Davies and Bowen had good efforts blocked and Dean Palmer struck from distance but a second goal looked further away than ever as the half ended.

The second half was punctuated with petty fouls, injuries which stemmed any flow that the game could mustyer. South Gower did at least try to be positive with substituions and formation but it is doubtful whether the whole of this beautiful penninsula could have mustered more meaningful attempts as the game started to fizzle out in a ping pong of toothless attacks and hopeful counters.

At the death Ford went close, Lewis was ludicrously given offside when clean through and Campbell celebrated a first clean sheet of the season and the accusation that he was part of some English genatalia with loud Scottish ramblings. Deserved.



Town Put To the Sword by Steelmen
Saturday 3rd October 2009
Monmouth Town 2 Corus Steel 3

Table topping Corus Steel took all three points in a pulsating game at The Sportsground when, again, missed opportunities and basic errors cost the Kingfishers dear. After Corus took the lead on five minutes with the Town defence failing to deal with an innocuous attack and guilty of ball watching as a loose ball was turned across goal for an unmarked Port Talbot attacker to roll home, the Kingfishers settled and took the game to the league leaders. Skipper Alderdice was in rampant form cutting through the visiting defence at will and Tranter Bowen and Ford were getting a lot of joy down the flanks and through the middle with Smith and co solid at the back.

In fact it was one way traffic for almost the entire half with Corus looking to hit on the break. Dean Palmer smacked a long distance strike and Ford almost finished a superb move that took in the length and breadth of the pitch before Palmer restored parity on the half hour with a super strike which cannoned in off the bar. Five minutes later Bowen turned in a shot after good work by Alderdice and as the half came to a close Tranter’s effort was well kept out and a goal mouth melee which would have racked up 1000 points in bagatelle failed to register a single score for the Kingfishers.

The second half was a much more ragged affair and although neither side were playing particularly well it was Monmouth who still looked most likely. Cue long range shot which beat Campbell all ends up and a free kick from wide on the right which was flat and straight, caught a flick and Campbell’s decision to punch proved the wrong one as the ball crashed against the inside netting.

The Kingfishers huffed and puffed manfully after that, coming close on a number of occasions with Bowen hitting the post. The disappointment was palpable and the game became more fractious as a result ending as it did in a fit of handbags and a flurry of yellow cards. Once again Town had dominated possession, territory, had by far the more promising movement and passages of play looking the more accomplished outfit. The only thing however that ultimately matters is the goals column. Town remain deficient.

Tranter’s Treble Trouble Trumps Bowen’s Brace (and other such alliterations)
Briton Ferry Llansawel 3 Monmouth Town 5
A blistering hat trick by Phil Tranter and two goals from the unplayable Matthew Bowen secured all three points at second placed Briton Ferry as Town came back from 2- 0 down to win at a canter. And yet after twenty minutes it looked like being a long old journey home as a free kick sailed though a rice paper wall to make it 2 -0 to the hosts after going in front in the fifth minute with another free kick taking a wicked deflection passed Campbell.

For the rest of the game it was a rampant Kingfishers’ comeback with Alderdice and Kennedy once again dominating proceedings in midfield and Tranter and Bowen looking as threatening this week as they were toothless the previous week at Pontyclun. Indeed a great run and strike by Bowen was parried onto the post in thirty minutes and Tranter pounced on the rebound to claim his sixth of the season. His seventh soon followed latching on to a superb through ball by Lewis and stroking in at the near post. Bowen put Town in front on the stroke of half time.

It was more of the same for the second half although the game was getting increasingly fractious with Smith in the wars and Davies often called into last gasp action. Campbell also had to save smartly from another decent free kick before Tranter got his hat trick with another trade mark run and finish. The referee sought to make more of a game of it harshly awarding Davies his first ever red card and Ferry responded by sending on taller and taller substitutes to capitalise on higher and higher balls pumped 'into the mixer'. Bowen however had other ideas and applied the coup de grace outpacing three defenders before making it five for Monmouth.

Briton Ferry do get a nicely taken third goal but in truth it was too little too late for the West Glamorgan side.

Town boss Barry Burns was delighted with the team performance “What a game! I was really proud of everyone out there today. At 2 – 0 down we could have folded but we not only fought back well we took the game to them in every sense. At times we were unplayable but we’ve played well all season and got 10 points from five away games”.

Town’s reserves kept their 100% start to life in the Welsh Leagues ending Caldicot Town’s unblemished start with a 3 -2 home win. Neville Harris, Eddie Murphy and Matthew Tabb got the goals.

This week Town are back home to table topping Corus Steel 2pm kick off while the Under 19’s make their home Welsh League debut against Cwmbran Celtic on Sunday (kick off 2pm) .

Last Roll of Alderdice Wins It for Town
Saturday 19th Septmber
Pontyclun 1 Monmouth Town 2

Jack Alderidce's last gasp header gave all three points to Monmouth in what, on the face of it would seem, a smash and grab raid. That would be far from the truth as the Kingfishers ambled around in the Pontyclun sunshine passing up all gifts on offer and somehow contriving to leave it so late to put a smile on the faces of their travelling support. Indeed for the last fifteen minutes Pontyclun were the better side and could, and possibly should, have won it, guilty themsleves of poor finishing - that particular prize having been won hands down by misfiring Town strikers - none of whom could hit a bull's bum with a bedpan on an afternoon to forget in front of goal.

And yet the approach play was bright enough all through the first half with Pontyclun lively on the counter having added a bit of pace and trickery with younger, more adventurous forwards but Town creating much the better openings.

Predictably Town fell behind when a counter attack stretched the defence and left Campbell exposed as Woodington slotted home on 29 minutes. Smith also cleared off the line soon after but with the last touch of the half Sam Palmer took advantage finally rolling home following a smart move.

The second half proved much the same story with Tranter persistent and getting in great positions and Town guilty of giving the ball away too cheaply.

Toward the end Bowen went close, Palmer's free kick was well kept out, Ford blasted wide, Tranter had one saved and with the very last touch Alderdice made it all seem like they were just kidding and they did want to win after all. Nearly had me going there they did!

Town boss Barry Burns visibly ageing as the game wore on said "You can't really analyse that. We've had about ten great chances in the first half alone, and the same number in the second half so we're doing something right! What I do know is that we can't keep dominating games and failing in the only thing that matters - scoring goals. Luckily Pontyclun also missed some good chances. On another day we're going home with nothing so we're happy with the three points."

Tranter Scares off Crows
Tuesday September 8th
Gwent Senior Cup
Monmouth Town 3 Cwmbran Town 1
Two late goals from Phil Tranter and a wonder strike by Hollywood Palmer gave Monmouth Town's Kingfishers a comfortable win against a Cwmbran side on their first ever visit to Monmouth. The win pits Town against Newport County in the first round at Spytty Park and adds another chapter to the remarkable story of Monmouth's progrees over the past five years.

The game began very cagily as both teams tried to settle and find a rythmn; Cwmbran very tidy  Monmouth more direct and more effective as a number of chances and opportunties opened with Bartholomew saving well on a couple of occassions from Tranter and Ford. 

Dean Palmer however was not to be denied on 32 minutes cutting inside and curling an outstanding strike from 25 yards beyond the outstretched Crows' 'keeper.

The second half was plyeed out in similar fashion as again Cwmbran looked the neater side but lacked any real pubnch, whereas Monmouth had more purpose and for once looked the more aggresive side. Again, Bartholomew was called into action a number of times notably making a treble stop from Tranter who with his strike partenrs Bowen created problems all evening for an increasingly beleaguered Cwmbran back line which inevitably succumbed with just 8 minutes remaining. This time Tranter would not be denied lifting a difficult chance over the advancing 'keeper.

The Kingfishers should have spun the closed sign there and then but instead looked to apply a llttle more sheen to the result and were made to suffer a nervous final five minutes when Chris Wilson crashed a great strike in off the underside of the bar.

There was still time for Tranter to don his stripey jumper, mask and grab his bag marked 'Swag' as he chased a no hope ball, coshed the covering Cwmbran defender, bamboozled the keeper with a shuffle and stroked the ball into an empty net. Cue celebrations.

Kingfishers Flop On Home Return
Saturday 5th September 2009
Monmouth Town 3 Troedyrhiw 4

Monmouth Town's wandering Kingfishers finally retuned home on Saturday after five and half months looking to continue a solid start to their season and finally hand out a defeat to their third division opponents who had beaten them twice last term.

I what any neutral observer would have enjoyed as a seven goal thriller any home supporter would have viewed as another three points tantalisingly served up with some great approach play but ultimately turned away in favour of the now familiar diet of poor finishing and even worse defending.

Despite playing  poorly for the first half Town again created the best, if not the only openings but were kept at arms length by some solid defending and picked off with an early breakaway goal and a thumping header from a needlessly conceded corner in the final minute of the half as again possession and terrioty counted for nothing.

A change at half time saw Smith enter the fray and Alderdice pushed forward and suddenly it was all the visitors could do to stem wave after wave of attacks as the Kingfishers sought to restore parity. Indeed it seemed only a matter of time before the inevitable came and depsite missing another raft of clear cut chances Dean Palmer finally pulled one back after a flowing move down the Town left started by Lewis and aided and abbetted by Tranter and Bowen.

Moments later Ford's superb run and cross from the right was headed home by Bowen and Town looked forward to pushing on and winning in some style.

Perhaps soothed by the figthback the Kingfishers midfield passed up the opportunity of tackling the visting central midfielder as he slalomed past four players before clipping an easy shot over and passed an out of position Campbell.

Town dusted themsleves down and Alderdice made it 3 - 3 with just five minutes remaining. Cue another horror show at a corner and the spoils went back to Merthyr.

Town joint boss Barry Burns was disappointed with the result "Once again we've played reasonably well in open play and dominated at times but come away empty handed. We don't need wholesale radical shake ups but there will have to be some changes if we are to stop making silly mistakes and throwing goals and points away."  

 

Town Drop Points to Complete 'Average' Start
Saturday 29th August 2009
Llantwit Fardre 2 Monmouth Town 2

Goals from Elliot Ford and Phil Tranter were the least that Monmouth Town's Kingfishers deserved from another dominant display against a Llantwit side who finished fourth last time out but who were distinctly second best for most of this encounter. Although Town now have more points than they could muster until late October last time out and until Novemebr the year before it is still a poor return for three away games from which a nine point haul would not have flattered them.

Footbal has a nasty habit of punishing teams who do not make possesion and territory count and so it proved when Llantwit equalised from a corner that was poorly awarded in the final minute of the first half and defended no better.

Elliot Ford's superb run and shot had given Town a warranted lead on 23 minutes and then a succession of chances were passed up and two super saves kept Llantwit in the game.

The home side emerged better prepared for the second half but still struggled for a foothold in the game until another badly defened corner saw an unmarked Llantwit player held stoop to conquer.

Tranter pogo'd an equalising header at the near post and Ashley Ford inexplicably chose not to shoot when presented with a gift wrapped opportunity as Town huffed and puffed for the winner and Llantwit relied on counter attacks that were fewer and further between as the game petered out.

This Saturday Town are back home for the first time since April with a game against Troedyrhiw (2.30) followed by a cup tie against former League of Wales Champs Cwmbran Town on Wednesday 9th (6.15) with the winners earning the right to play Newport County in the following  round.

Ford Wins The Derby
Saturday 22nd August 2009
Goytre 1 Monmouth Town 2

A late winner by man of the match Elliot Ford gave all three points to a dominant Kingfishers side who despite again creating a host of chances and playing against ten men for the whole of the second half still did their best to jangle of the nerves of their travelling support for the entire game.

In an embarrasingly one sided first half Town contrived to miss numerous chances for the third game running, had a stonewall penalty appeal mysteriously denied and were victims of numerous petty fouls that finally led to the main culprit being sent from the field. They finally broke through in the 43rd minute as Tranter's firm finish provided scant reward for passing and movement that was far too much for the hosts to contain.

It was too much to hope for more of the same in the second half as Goytre reshaped their defence and looked to at least limit the damage. The niggling fouls continued however and disrupted any real flow that the game could muster, as cautioned players continued to receive chastening words rather than early baths from an amazingly charitable referee.

Goytrer however worked their way back into the game and looked likley to equalise and so it proved as the defensive wall failed to stand up to a firm strike by the hosts' skipper.

Town attacks then grew increasingly desperate as Dean Palmer struck the bar with a superb strike from distance and quality crosses failed to connect with attacking headers. Cue Ford, replacing Tranter in attack and latching onto a through balll from Bowen and finshing superbly in the bottom corner with just two minutes remaining. Town co-boss Barry Burns was delighted to get off the mark with a win "Elliot has been doing that for fun in pre season and we took a bit of gamble to put him up front to get us a winner. He'd been terrorising them down the flanks all afternoon and did brilliantly. I was pleased with the first half performance, but the second half we stopped passing and allowed them back into it. We just need to keep our confidence high and finish of even 50% of our chances and someone's on the end  of a real hammering." 

No Way Back For Town In Season Opener.
Wednesday 18th August 2009
Newport Civil Service 1 Monmouth Town 0

A dubious penalty late in the first half on a rare Newport attack provided the only goal of a surprisingly one sided affair as the Kingfishers failed to break down their old rival's packed defence depsite having almost total control of the final 45 minutes - and pretty much most of the first 45.

Both teams had started their season's with trips to mid Wales on Welsh Cup duty but it was hardly the travelling that could explain a scrappy and fitful opening quarter of an hour as both sides struggled to cope with the hard ground and high bounce although as the half wore on it was Monmouth who adapted better and took control of the key midfield areas and were rarely troubled by Civil direct attacks.

The well drilled Civil back line however kept Tranter and Bowen under close wraps and managed to keep most of the real danger at bay. It was a similar story at the other end until the half hour mark when a sloppy passage of defensive play saw Town fail to clear their lines, get caught in possession and get punished as Martyn New the referee, awarded a penalty for a tumble that, on another day, could as easily have been awarded a BAGA stage one.

A rattled Town although retaining control of the game couldn't quite manage any serious threats to the Civil goal for the remainder of the half.

The second half was more huff and puff for Town with increasing desparation as attack after attack was repelled on the rock formed by Civil's hefty back line, eagerly helped out by a midfield for whom the creative delights of the game proved elusive for the duration of this one. Indeed as the game reached its climax Civil were forced to retreat in the manner of a grocer packing his shop front boxes away as closing time approached, but a mixture of poor finishing, good goalkeeping and defending kept out a succession of attacks and attempts, the best from Bowen which struck and upright and Sam Palmer just failing to finish the rebound.

Despite the losing start Town co-boss Barry Burns was upbeat about the performance "Credit to Civil, they are a strong side and will not concede many this season as they are hard to break down.  We've haven't done a lot wrong and in other games we'll play a lot worse and win. A poor decision has cost us but I was pleased with the way we didn't panic and kept trying to do the right things. We'll be fine"
 

Town Concentrate On The League!!
Friday 14th August 2009
Welsh Cup Preliminary Round
Hay St Mary's 1 Monmouth Town 1
(Hay St Mary's win 5 - 3 on penalties)

There are probably a millon and one worse ways to spend a muggy Friday night in August than to spend it watching a good quality cup tie in the tranquil setting of the lovely border town of Hay on Wye. Throw in a bag full of chances, extra time, a penalty shoot out and a couple of pints in the company (well maybe vicinity) of some of Hay on Wye's finest eye candy and you can push that to two million and one. If you're a neutral!

For the more myopic among us Town probably blew this one on the balance of play creating better and more chances and shading it on the more creative passages of play. Credit however to a well drilled, disciplined Hay St Mary's side who simply stuck at it, changed it with good effect midway through the second half to nick an equaliser and came out on top in the lottery that is a penalty shoot out.

The game took a while to settle down as Hay looked to keep the ball and probe for an opening in dojg so inviting the Kingfsihers to press individually and as a team with more and more success as Hay passes were cut out allowing Ford and Palmer to try their luck from distance and Bowen and Tranter to worry the home defence.

The pressure finally told when Tranter latched on to a through ball on the half hour, held off his defender to finish superbly at the far post. The remainder of the half saw Town come close on a few more occasions but kept supporrters on their toes by failing to deal effectively with some hopeful through balls and being let off when the otherwise excellent St Mary's striker fluffed a one on one.

It was more of the same in the second half with Town pressing well and Hay keeping the ball but failing to make any real inroads. A change of formation suddenly changed the balance of the game and as passes switched play and Town looked to adapt a superb hanging cross was finished well to bring the game back to parity.

The game opened up further as both sides looked to grab a winner. Bowen, Tranter, Alderdice, Ford and Palmer all possibly should have done better with decent chances and Bowen's penalty appeal was waved away as the game grew more frantic. Hay, too, squandered a couple of opportunties, Campbell saved well and Dan Spence performed some heroics to block a goalbound effort.

The huff and puff however came to nothing as extra time came and went with a few more efforts whistling high and wide.  Then Hay scored all their penalties and Monmouth .....didn;t leaving them to take the many positives from the game and look forward to their first taste of league action in Wednesday's clash with Gwent rivals Newport Civil Service.


So Far So Good For Pre Season
Monmouth Town's pre season preparations continued to develop nicely with a comfortable run out against a young Cwmbran Celtic team on an Autumnal pitch at Chippie. Hard on the heels of a solid canter against Morriston Olympic and the usual run around by Dereham Town, The Kingfishers slammed in another eight goals and can feel that the progress with just three weeks to go has been good. Elliot Ford continues to be the brightest spot banging in another hat trick, while eye brows have also been raised at appearances by 'young Clarkie' who punctuated his second half performance with some delicious passes and an exellent first touch.

Ashely Ford has also shown well and Rhodri Lewis has been outstanding. Add this to a confident debut by Chris Campbell in goal and more to come from possible new signing Mattie Sherman  and the Kingfishers can look forward to their best ever start to a Welsh League campaign. (admittedly that won't be difficult).

With skipper jack Alderdice recuperating well from a groin injury and the stalwarts of Davies, Kennedy, Smith, Bowen and the Palmers also returning looking sharp  it could be a good season! Bring it on.


Town End Season on a High
Saturday 16th May 2009
Seven Sisters 2 Monmouth Town 3

Monmouth Town's second season in Welsh League football ended on a positive note with a well deserved 3 - 2 win at Seven Sisters. Goals from the excellent Phil Tranter and Matthew Bowen and a winner from Sam Palmer were enough to end a winless run of four games and possibly secure a top half finish for the Kingfishers.

Town took the lead after 25 minutes with a scooped finish by Tranter and quickly conceded the advantage, failing to deal with swirling free kick and the ensuing scramble which presented a simple opportunity for the home striker.

With Lewis making his first start for many months and doing a great job down the town right the defnce looked more solid than of late allowing Alderdice to get forward and superbly set up Bowen's simple finish for his 22nd of the season. 

Midway through the second half Town may have been forced to rue  a succession of missed chances and fluffed situations when Kennedy, otherwise ending his own season on a high note, inexplicably neglected to clear his lines, was robbed and punished as a home striker gleefully lobbed Williams. Luckily, Town were not finished and depsite missing more chances Palmer finshed off great work by Bowen with a smart strike into the roof of the net.

It was left to Town Chairman Lee Robson to reflect on a long hard season "Hopefully today's result means we'll finish in the top half which not so long ago looked highly unlikely, so I'm proud of the way people have stuck at it, played some good football, had some great results and made sure we consolidate in this division".

Town will look to celebrate the success of all of the their teams at an awards evening at the Club House on Friday 19th June.

Town Travel Woes Continue
Saturday 9th May 2009
Cwmamman Institute 4 Monmouth Town 3

Town Share the Spoils In Mon Derby
Goytre 1 Monmouth Town 1
Thursday 30th April 2009

Monmouth Town went back to basics on their visit to Monmouthshire rivals Goytre looking to plug the leaks that have appeared in a previously solid looking defence and came away with a deserved point from an absorbing mid table clash.

Both sides looked committed to the task and although the tackles were flying in the spirit of both sides was impeccable, although the quality was at times a reminder of why neither side have challenged this season. Indeed Town's early season form has been mirrored by Goytre's finish to the campaign as they struggled for points to ensure a top half spot.

That said, the first half was a pretty even affair although the Kingfishers probably had the better of the openings as first Palmer rattled the crossbar after five minutes then Tabb and Palmer efforts stung the home keepers' hands rather than ruffling his net. On 40 minutes Dean Palmer wonderful free kick given for a dubious backing in decision nestled beautifully in the bottom corner to give Town a half time lead.

The second half served up more of the same with perhaps the Plough Road team shading the better of the possession but the commitment and concentration of Town showed that lessons had been heeded. An unfortunate ricochet undid the good work on the hour however as Davies shins laid the ball into the path of an unmarked striker who calmly slotted in the equaliser.

Town responded well and should have done better with other chances as Tabb, Bowen and Tranter efforts were easily saved. Either side could have won it as mistakes looked likely in the final quarter but in truth neither side deserved to lose or quite had the ideas to win.

Town boss Rob Pick was satisfied with the result "We decided that we needed to get back to defending well as the last two games have undermined a bit of the hard work we put in. It was a fair result and I was pleased with the efforts of the players.We now have a good rest with no game on  Saturday but I hope that we can kick on from here and finish the season well to give us a platform for next season's campaign."   

Doh!
Pontyclun 5 Monmouth Town 0
Saturday 25th April 2009

After Town's worst defeat in five years you sort of have to think about the purpose of match reports. On the one hand ..let's face it..no-one's really interested in the minutae of the game. On the other hand, written as they mostly are by club supporters or officials, their main purpose is to celebrate and/or reflect and to give the game some meaning in a wider context.To drum up support, to keep morale high, to send messages to supporters, opponents, or to players and managers that they need to buck up their ideas or that they have done really well. The game is relative to everything that comes before and is yet to come.

In short they are very rarely objective accounts of a game that has just been played unless they are written by a journalist that has been sent by the local rag! Even then, he or she is likely to be more harsh or sycophantic as local people are the ones buying the paper. 

Why am I writing this? What has this got to do with anything? It's simple. If i were to write an objective piece about the game yesterday it would be that Town get well beated by a team playing well below their best.  I would then proceed to spell out why that was the case. That Monmouth looked the better side for the first half an hour but couldn't or wouldn't score. That Pontyclun has some gifted chances that they never looked likely to take. That Pontyclun went in front, the Kingfishers management made a decision to swap everything that went badly wrong and was exploited by the 'Clun, that Monmouth players made decisions that were truly 'pubteam' and Pontycun filled their boots without really having any oppostion.

But that would be to ignore that Town have had a marvellous run of late and that the players and management have made some great decsions and got a lot of things right. It would ignore the fact that Pontyclun have played a lot better in other games and lost or drawn (the corresponding game at our place springs to mind).

In the light of all that I've decided not to write a match report at all. Roll on Thursday!


Table Toppers Down Town
AFC Llwydcoed 4 Monmouth Town 1
Tuesday April 21st 2009

Monmouth Town's Kingfishers were brought back to earth with a bump by table topping Llwydcoed who looked every inch title contenders.

Monmouth for their part looked jaded and off the pace, perhaps understandably so, as the recent tough programme and carrying a slim squad finally took its toll. Missing in form striker Phil Tranter and with three players playing schoolboy football the same afternoon Town's resources were further depleted when top scorer Matthew Bowen was forced off after only 20 minutes, leaving makeshift striker Simon Wookey to lead the line with Sam McCoy who looked anything but match fit after missing recent games through injury.

Amazingly Town took the lead through Ross Kennedy but it proved a false dawn as two sloppy goals sent Llwydcoed into the half time break firmly in the driving seat.

A qucik goal after the restart virtually sealed the result and although Town held out admirably trying to keep the score down a well worked goal toward the end of the game confirmed a deserved win for the home side.

Club captain Andrew Smith pointed out afterwards "We've had some rally hard games of late and its taken it out of us. I think we could have given a better account of ourselves under normal circumstancess but they were a very good team and they were very composed and controlled when they had the ball and worked harder than we did when they didn't. We've done really well of late but we can bounce back on Saturday"

Town in Seventh Heaven
Porthcawl Town 1 Monmouth Town 3
Saturday 18th April 2009

The wrecking ball that Monmouth Town’s Kingfishers have taken to Porthcawl Town’s title ambitions swung even more ferociously as the Seasiders slumped to their second defeat in a fortnight to a rampant and bang on form Monmouth team. A seventh win in eight was in stark contrast to the Porthcawl side who lost for the third time in a two week period that has not only jeopardised their title claims but put a promotion spot that looked nailed on in doubt.

And yet the game could have been so different. Porthcawl once again were faster out of the traps and within minutes it became clear that the pulsating affair of 11 days ago had given way to a much more frantic spectacle with Porthcawl perhaps sensing that they were in desperate need of a good result, dominating proceedings but lacking any composure in front of goal in contrast to a Monmouth team who had to battle hard and calmly to keep the wave of attacks at bay.

The tension had clearly affected the home bench who very early resorted to abuse of Monmouth players and were incredulous at being 2 goals down within half an hour , very much against the run of play but very much within the rules of association football as first a superb ball from Sam Palmer was rolled forward by Bowen and finished cleanly and then a solo effort from Jack Alderdice whose Gazzaesque approach play and clean left foot strike staked a claim for goal of the season.

Indeed the lack of calmness shown by the home bench was symptomatic of a hurried approach to the game that ensured that the Seasiders only reward for the majority of possession and a glut of opportunities was to capitialise on a first error by Lee Williams which let in the home striker on the stroke of half time.

The second half was similar but much different in the sense that Porthcawl no longer seemed to believe they could pull another goal back to equalise and again Phil Tranter, Bowen and Alderdice looked likely to increase the Monmouth lead with a breakaway effort. Tranter in particular was getting his usual stick from the home crowd and again had the last laugh as he gathered a through ball , drove a coach and horses through all the challenges and slipped easily passed the home keeper .

The rest of game witnessed a lot more huff and puff from a Porthcawl team long since out of ideas and Monmouth clear penalty appeals saved them from an even more humiliating result. Afterwards Town joint boss Robin Pick said “that was one hell of a win for us and one hell of performance. We battled really hard and had to dig in to stay in the game for the first half an hour. Then we’ve hit them with two sucker punches and finished the job with a terrific defensive performance. To be honest they deserved nothing from the game as they seemed a bit clueless really. It was almost as if they thought we shouldn’t be allowed to score. Sorry lads that ain’t the way it works. For our part we stuck at it and looked like we could have scored more. We’re up to seventh now and frankly I don’t care who goes up and who doesn’t. We just want to play and win every game,spoil a few partiesand have  a few of our own!”

This Saturday Town are away at Pontyclun but are urging a big turn out for the local, derby next Thursday at Goytre (kick off 6.15)


Town Finish on High
Monmouth Town 3 Llantwit Fardre 1
Wednesday 15th April 2009

Monmouth Town's resurgent Kingfishers claimed another high flying scalp in the last home game of the season in a comprehensive win against Rhondda rivals Llantwit Fardre and gained revenge for an opening day reverse.

Starting with five consecutive home wins Town immediately looked the better team and were denied in the first minute when Tranter just failed to get on the end of a shot that was spilled by the visiting keeper. That set the scene for a good first half performance as Town's consistent probing always looked likely to reap rewards and so it proved when Tranter got on the end of a Bowen flick to fire past the stranded keeper.

With Alderedice and Kennedy again bossing the midfield and Palmer and Ford working effectively down the flanks Town went further ahead on forty minutes as Alderdice emphatically headed home a retaken free kick. In the final minute of the half some uncharacteristically sloppy defending let in Fardre for a goal that may have provided some hope for the visitors.

It was to prove false hope however as again Town dominated the early second half proceedings and defended exceptionally well keeping most of the Llantwit play far from danger. The visitors however have always looked strong on the counter and also at set pieces but again Williams in the Town goal proved more than a match for anything fired his way and Town's clincher came when Tranter again caused problems and hooked the ball onto Bowen. With plenty to do, a shimmy and a swivel put the Town's top scoreer in a great position and his firmly struck shot over his shoulder arced superbly into the corner.

Llantwit responded positively by sending on more attacking options but Smith and co stayed resolute and Bowen could have scored again but shot straight at the onrushing keeper. Subsititute McCoy caused more problems and town closed the game out for a tough but ultimately comsummate victory which consoldated their eight place and ended their home programme on a high.

Afterwards, Robin Pick was deligthed with another home win "another great performance today and another great show of support from people in the Town. Judging by the applause druing and after the game I think we've won some friends with our perfomances which have improved immensely over the past few weeks. We've now got six away games to end our season and we must carry our home form with us if we are to finish in the top half. "

This Saturday Town are away at the Seaside to face Porthcawl Town who still have title aspirations and will be looking to avenge the 2 - 0 reverse they suffered at the Sportsgound last week.

Double Deano Delight - Palmer brace boosts Town
Saturday 11th April 2009
Monmouth Town 4 Ystradgynlais 0

A sumptuous double by Dean Palmer, Aaron Davies ’ first competitive goal for two seasons and an Andrew Smith penalty sealed Town’s fourth consecutive home win and sent the Kingfishers to eighth in the table.

Town are now also the highest placed Gwent side in the division and remarkably are Gwent's top scorers in all divisions, which given their 12 defeats from 14 starts at the beginning of the season represents a remarkable turnaround.

They were however made to work hard for this victory by an Ystradgynlais side all but resigned to playing county foot all next season but to their credit trying their best to fulfil their commitments and bow out with some pride.

Town should have taken the lead in the second minute when Bowen’s effort struck the upright with the ‘keeper helpless and then proceeded to make it difficult for themselves although Ford was showing good penetration down the right hand side but in form strikers Bowen and Tranter decided to sit the game out .

Then on the half hour came three goals in four minutes starting with Smith’s third penalty in as many games as Kennedy made the most of minimal contact. Davies headed home a Palmer corner then Palmer finished off a smooth move with a fine strike into the bottom corner.

From then until Palmer struck his second and the Town’s fourth with another great finish in the 77th minute it was all huff and puff with the reasonable crowd more intent on enjoying the glorious sunshine.

Joint boss Barry Burns was content with the result if no0t the performance “we are about winning football games so we have to be pleased with that. The team talks are getting a lot shorter as all of the players know what they have to do. The trick sometimes is to get them doing it all the time even if we are winning comfortably”.

Mascots at the game were the Town’s under nine’s team who gave a great exhibition at half time. Well done lads!

Kingfishers Enjoy the Seasiders Day Out
Tuesday 7th April 2009
Monmouth Town 2 Porthcawl 0

The Town’s home form held steady as title pretenders Porthcawl were seen off in a pulsating game at the sportsground.

The Seasiders had arrived hoping to get the points to take them clear at the top but struggled to break down a combative and resilient Kingfishers' outfit who made the most of their chances and were good value for the win which again puts them in the top half of the table.

In windy conditions the game started with Town on the back foot and as the quick and direct league leaders used the wind to full advantage but again Smith marshalled his back three superbly and with Alderdice and Kennedy providing a solid base in midfield Town looked to set up Tranter and Bowen using the width again well provided by Ford and Palmer.

Chances were however at a premium for both sides as the wind made constructive passages of play more of a gamble than a positive choice.

That the half ended goalless was a tribute the defensive work and solid goalkeeping of Lee Williams who recovered from a shaky start to regain his composure.

With the wind in their favour it was always likely to be amore productive second half for the Kingfishers and so it proved when Tranter latched onto a through ball from 25 yards and watched, metaphorical pipe in hand, as his low slow shot arced and rolled Crown Green Bowls style into the far corner.

Not to be outdone Porthcawl came back into the game and threatened to level with every attack but again were kept at bay by superb defending. The seasiders should have levelled with just ten minutes remaining when slack marking let a cross roll invitingly to an oncoming striker who from a yard out with an open goal somehow managed to find the river. A minute later Bowen had been upended in the penalty box, Smith does what he does best, Porthcawl fell apart amid a sending off and string of bookings and that was that!

Barry Burns said ”Bloody Marvellous!”


Town Bubble Bursts
Saturday April 4th 2009
AFC Porth 3 Monmouth Town 2

The Kingfishers' three game winning run came to an abrupt end at championship chasing Porth used all of their experience and know how to see out a fairly even game in the Rhondda Valleys.

Town had travelled confident of getting some sort of result such was the contrasting nature of their fortune from the first meeting back in November. Then, Town were struggling to end an awful start to the season with new Manager Andy Beattie packing the defence and looking to stop leaking goals. This time out the young Kingfishers were looking to continue their rich vein of scoring form and when Bowen glanced in from Palmer's cross after nine minutes it looked as though another good result was on the cards. Ironically that the half was reached with the lead still intact had a lot to do with the home team's profligacy but thier was still some credit that could be given to Town's defensive back line although the returning Harris was made to work hard to keep out the Porth right side.

Although the game ebbed and flowed evenly, Tranter and Bowen were getting little change from the Porth rear guard and when Smith accepted an invite to challenge on the hour his mistimed tackle was punished with a penalty by the referee. Town were behind barely ten minutes later when Palmer was hustled off the ball and the resulting cross evaded three more defenders before finding a striker at the far post to tap home.

Town's best spell of the game followed as a number of half chances were spurned and clear opportunities passed up when scoring might have seemed easier. Town found themsleves overcommitted looking for the leveller and were exposed for the third goal with five minutes remaining and although Smith had time to pull another back from the spot after Tranter had been pulled down it was too little too late to save a point.

Joint boss Robin Pick was philosophical after the game "To be fair they were the better side today and used their experinece to win the game. We've played better in the second half and a couple of mistakes have cost usbut its important that we stick at and learn from this."

Kingfishers Down Promotion Hopefuls
Sunday March 29th
Monmouth Town 2 Cwmamman United 0

A third consecutive Monmouth victory severly dented Cwmamman's promotion hopes and catapulted themsleves into the top half of the table for the first time in over a year and gave real hope for a top half finish and the claim to Gwent's highest placed team.

Expecting a real battle following the hard fought draw just three weeks ago Town had to be on their mettle as initially Cwmamman looked the brighter of the two sides and looked to be intent on giving in form strikers Bowen and Tranter little change on a warm afternoon in front of the season's biggest crowd.

The early exchanges created littel panic in either defence as Smith again led the back line superbly and Davies and Spence got the better of the busy strikers. On fifteen minutes Sam Palmer's stunning strike  gave the visiting keeper no chance and Town grew in confidence with Alderdice adn Kennedy refsing to be overshadowed by a skilfull opposing midfiled and Ford doing his best to give his opposing left back a torrid afternoon. As the half wore on it seemed that the game would be settled by the midfield and other personal battles erupting around the pitch but despite plenty of possession adn space neither side looked likey to add to the scoring although Tranter's one chance was superbly saved at his feet.

The second half began much as the first half as Cwmamman came back strongly but didn't really trouble the Kingfishers defence and Williams again looked solid in the Town goal. Bowen's substitution however gave Sam McCoy a chance to show what he can do and he wasted little time in getting into the game and unsettling the compsoure of the visiting defence while Ford was threatening to break through whenever he received the ball out wide. Indeed it was a Ford/McCoy combination which finally unlocked the defence for the decisive goal on 78 minutes as a superb 30 metre cross field ball by the latter was instantly controlled by Ford whose drilled shot, although well saved by the keeper was followed up by the lurking Tranter to score with an easy tap in.  It was Tranter's 10th goal in nine games since his January signing and with Bowen also notching 10 in nine the Town's strike force is the most in form in the division and has contributed hugely to Town's surge up the table and finally does justice to some of the excellent defensive and midfield displays. Club Captain Andrew Smith was in no doubt that Town can still play a big part in deciding where the honours end up this season "We get to play all of the contenders over the next six weeks and we're confident that we can upset a few ambitions other clubs might have. Sunday's game was relatively comfortable and we looked solid throughout and we can score goals from anywhere at the moment. The Lads really appreciate playing in front of decent crowds and it would be great if the Town could get behind us for the last three home games. We won't be back for five months after that!"

Town co-boss Barry Burns was delighted with the win and had special praise for Lee Williams who kept another clean sheet "Lee has been superb recently and although he didn't have much to do today his concentration was superb and he did everything asked of him and more. Its also terrific to get into the top half of the table and just a few weeks ago we were looking at a very difficult end to the season. The pressure is off now and I hope we can start to express ourselves a bit more but retain the discipline we've now got. I think we can climb even higher and with ten games left there's no reason why we can't keep our run going till the end of the season"

Towm are way at Porth this Satuday but are Home to championship chasing Porthcawl Town next Tuesday (7th kick off 6.15).


SIX OF THE BEST FOR TOWN
Saturday 21st March 2009
Monmouth Town 6 Aberbargoed Buds 0

Victories as comprehensive as this are usually a mix of one team being very good and the other having a bad day at the office but in truth even this scoreline flattered a very poor Buds showing, apparently missing key players more interested in a side event taking place later in the day.

Tranter's consumate hat trick and Bowen's brace was also a poor return for a plethora of other easier chances that went high and wide on a sundrenched Monmouth sportsground. To dwell on such wastefulness would however be churlish as a compact, competitive Kingfisher side put Aberbargoed to the sword and capitalised on poor defence and a toothless attack with Williams in the Town goal having only a couple of weak efforts to trouble his easy afternoon.

Bowen started the rout in the thirteenth minute gleefully tapping home after a horrible mix up left three defenders on the floor and the ball rolling toward an empty net. A simlar situation on 28 minutes let in Tranter for his first as he turned to lob a static goalkeeper. Town should have been out of sight at half time but ensured the second half would at least provide some interest by contriving to miss openings that were being carved out at will.

Alderdice finally settled matters with a glorious strike on 67 minutes and as, chance after chance, was sent into Chippenham the Buds continued to try and get back into the game that was far beyond them, emphatically so as Tranter then Bowen made it five with superb finishes and Tranter completed his hat trick with another run and strike shot on 82 minutes. From then it was a matter of whether Town could keep a clean sheet but a usually confident Buds team had long given up any belief that they could get any form of consolation from the game.

The win puts the Kingfishers above Aberbargoed in the race to be Gwent highest placed third divison team and just down the road the Kingfishers' second string made it a good day for the club hammering table toppers Tintern 4 - 1 on their own ground.

Before the match Town's players walked out with the club's under 8 team who were enjoying the day as mascots and provided an exhibition of their skills at half time.

Club Chairman Lee Robson was justifiably proud of the club on a good day for Monmouth football "It doesn't get much better than that. We had a few visitors from Somerset, Nottinghamshire and London and I think they left with a great impresssion of the Town and the club. It was proud moment to see how successful our youth set up is and how keen the young players were and how enthusiastic the parents were. Shelley Swann has done a marvellous job with the youngsters. The grown ups, if I can call them that, didn't do too badly either and to finally get a win over Buds was excellent. Things are going well at the moment and we have to keep doing the right things in the right way and I'm sure we will continue to progress."

Town are now at Home next Sunday as they host promotion chasing Cwmamman United (kick off 2.30). Beforehand there is a charity match as Wales (Dads) take on England (Dads) in aid of St Davids' hospice (kick off 12.30).

Tranter Sinks Ferry
Saturday 14th March 2009
Briton Ferry 2 Monmouth Town 3

A thunderous strike from an impossible angle in the 87th minute by Phil Tranter earned the Kingfishers an impressive victory on the third leg of their Neath Valley tour.  Tranter 's explosive strike was celebrated in some style as the Town's young Kingfishers had shown superb character to come from behind twice and snatch a deserved victory.

Town started badly on a pitch best described as agricultural falling behind in the seventh minute to another badly defended corner as the home striker stooped to head home unchallenged and it took the first half hour for both sides to realise that even attempting to play any passing football would be rendered foolish. Once Town got into the game they seemed the team most likely and got a deserved equaliser as McCoy turned infield to unleash an unstoppable strike from 25 yardss that took a slight deflection and wrongfooted the home 'keeper.

The second half was a more open affair with both sides looking to attack and Ferry probably making the best of the conditions underfoot but possibly conceding the better opportunities to Monmouth who could, and should, have done better with promising situations The Kingfishers had their pockets picked when a superb through ball left Spence one on one with the burly and experienced centre forward whose strength took him clear and a quick finish went low past Williams.

The response was immediate as McCoy fed Bowen who dispatched his shot from a sharp angle past Briton Ferry's depairing keeper.

With the game delicately balanced at two a piece the referee always seemed likely to leave an impression as he peppered the game with whistles for innocuous challenges and bizzarely played advantage to more blatant offences none so baffling than turning down what seemed a clear penalty appeal  for Ferry as Kennedy's challenge upended the tricky Briton Ferry winger.

As the game entered its final minutes Tranter blazed over, Bowen failed to capitalise on a clear opening then inexplicably punted wide from a yard out with the goal keeper beaten before Ferry struck Wiliams' upright and stung his hands with consecutive attacks.

As it looked like neither side could take the chances presented to them, cue Phil Tranter taking a pass on the edge of the box, skinning his defender and from a seemingly improssible angle rifling a shot into the roof of the net to claim the points for the Kingfishers. Although his shirt waving celebration earned a booking it was just reward for a hard fought ninety minutes that still had time to see a Ferry player dismissed. Town's management team were delighted after the game with Robin Pick particuarly impressed with the Team's fighting qualities "All fourteen of the lads wre terrific coming from behind twice and scoring three terrific goals. Our three games in the Swanse and Neath valleys have ended all square and that's not a bad haul when on other days we could have won them all. Its great to be back home next week and we're looking to have a positive final leg of the season. It's vital that all the players realsie that they will all play a part in that run in and they aren't too precuious about spending a bit of time on the bench"


Kingfishers Prove a Point
Saturday 7th March 2009
Cwmamman United 3 Monmouth Town 3

Monmouth Town's Kingfishers made the long trek to Carmarthenshire and put their defeat at Llansawel behind them grabbing a point from an entertaining game at promotion chasing Cwmamman. The hosts had started the day in fourth place and had won their previous five fixtures and looked confident in the opening exchanges as Town struggled to recover from the 2 hour bus trip. Matthew Bowen's strike on 18 minutes certainly warmed the travelling supporters as the drizzle and previous rainfall worsened the conditions for players and supporters alike.

Just minutes later a mistake by Dan Spence led to a whipped shot that skimmed off Williams in the Town goal and was finished emphatically by the home striker. Williams may have done better on a drier day but he could still be pleased with two outstanding stops earlier in the half.

On the half hour some dazzling footwork by Bowen took him through the home defence and his superb through ball was collected at pace by McCoy who prodded the ball home to make it 2 - 1 to Town. Moments later a superb effort from Dean Palmer cannoned off the cross bar and away to safety as Town looked to increase their lead.

After the break the home side were clearly responding to some harsh words from their management as they were altogether a snappier outfit hustling Town players backwards and into mistakes. Town however still looked dangerous on the break and on the hour Tranter's run was ended by a trip in the penalty area and he brushed himself down to take a penalty before departing to a wedding reception in Cardiff. The kick was well saved by the home goalkeeper but the rebound was bundled home by Alderdice allowing Tranter to dubiously claim another 'assist'.

Simon Wookey's introduction and a reversion to a tighter 4- 5 -1 formation was designed to secure all three points for the Kingfishers but they were undone twice in almost identical fashion failing to adequately challenge for headers at consecutive corners, and ball watching as the knocked down headers were converted from close range.

Both sides could have gone on to win the game as Bowen, Alderdice and Wookey had efforts thwarted and the Cwmamman strikers missed easier chances. Town boss Robin Pick was however pleased with a point "I'd have taken a point before the game and the performance was a massive improvement on last week. Our first team squad is a bit thin at the moment which is very worrying if we have any more injuries but we've competed really well and we can hopefully get back some of the form we were showing a month ago."

So Neath So Far
Saturday 28th February 2009
Llansawel 4 Monmouth Town 1

Monmouth Town's Kingfishers travelled to Neath in hope and expecation of a win which would send them another couple of places up the Welsh League table and returned with nothing having been beaten by a better organsied, hungrier relegation threatened Llansawel team who barely had to break sweat to register their best win of the season.

Although missing the suspended Smith and in form striker Tranter they can have little excuse for an insipid display as they shipped four goals from set peices, lost all of the individual battles and generally had a bad day at the office.

And yet the start was misleading as Kennedy headed in a Harris free kick for the first goal after seven minutes but two goals in two minutes on the half hour as Town's defenders went missing from a throw in and a corner gave Llansawel the half time lead.

If anything Town's second half performance was worse and once they went further behind on 62 minutes it was game over as the home sick Kingfishers on their first away game for three months never looked capable of breaking down a home defence who didn't have to do much to thwart toothless and aimless attacks. 

In contrast the burly Llansawel strikers seemed to cause havoc with every long ball punted their way.

The fourth goal merely underlined the gulf that existed in attitude and desire between the two sides and Town joint boss Barry Burns was at a loss to explain the heavy defeat afterwards preferring to look forward to next week's fixture again in west Glamorgan at high flying Cwmamman United; "We were very poor all over the park today and if there's any consolation it's that we can't play that badly again. We should know by now that we can't expect to turn up and beat sides. We have to work a lot harder for our results and hopefully that lesson will have been learnt."

Before the game both sides observed a minutes silence in tribute to Monmouth's Jamie Gunn recently killed in action in Afghanistan.

 

Troedyrhiw, Troedyra ha ha ha ha ha have the last laugh to end Town run.
Saturday 21st Februrary 2009
Monmouth Town 1 Troedyrhiw 2

Monmouth Town's winning run came to an end in a scrappy and feisty affair at the Sportsground as they finally ran out of luck in front of goal.

After sixteen goals in the previous three fixtures and barely a missed chance the Kingfishers had good reason to feel confident about reversing the 4 - 1 thumping they experinceed earlier in the season but after a fairly even first twenty minutes the task got harder as they failed to deal with an awkward penalty area melee, Smith handled and was red carded for the third time this season and the resulting penalty was confidently dispatched.

A hastiley reorgrnased Monmouth team took a littel time to get back inot the game but for the rest of the half took the game to the visitors and had the better of the exchanges but struggled to make the possesson and territory count as Troedyrhiw showed their mettle. Town finally got the breakthrough they deserved when once again great work by Tranter was clinically finshed by an increasingly confident Bowen for his fifth in four games.

The pendulum swung further Monmouth's way in a mad final muinute before half time when first another panelty was awarded to the visitors which was well saved by Williams then a moment of madness by a Troedyrhiw midfielder as he stamped on Kingfishers captain Alderdice was answered with the second red card of the game.

Perhaps because of the aditonal space the second half grew more scrappy and stretched as both sides failed to find any rythmn but Town defended well and restricted Troedyrhiw to passing around in front of them. A coupe of good efforts didn't really trouble the visiting 'keeper but Tranter and Bowen should have done better with clear opportunties before a lapse of concetration let in the busy Troedyrhiw striker who took his chance well.

From there a lot of huff and puff made no real dents in a the Troedyrhiw back line who held firm and looked dangerous on the break as both sides tired. 

Town co-boss Barry Burns was disappointed with the result but added "I thought we were good for a draw at least but we've lost a bit of concentation at a crucial time and been punsihed. We possibly could have made more of some opportunties but its hard to criticise anyone as they all put in a good shift today. Sometimes it doesn't go your way. That's football"

  


Cuckoos Evicted In Valentine's Day Massacre
Saturday 14th February
Monmouth Town 8 (eight) Risca United 1

A Kingfishers team shorn of four regular first teamers including influential captain Andrew Smith ensured there was no happy Valentine's day for Risca's Cuckoos as Town posted their best ever Welsh League result. With more braces than a children's dentist there were two a piece from  Matthew Tabb, Matthew Bowen and Phil Tranter who continued his goal a game start to life at Monmouth and added three assists with Alderdice and Dean Palmer also on the mark as Town made it five wins in the last seven and sixteen goals in the last three home games to jump another two places up the table and away from relegation danger.

New management duo Robin Pick and Barry Burns had watched Risca over the past two weeks and plotted an early onslaught against a defence that sat too deep and had too little width. The reward was a five goal half time lead that although not flattering the home side masked a more even game in terms of possession.

There were only three minutes on the clock when great work by Sam Palmer was finished by a composed headed finish by 17 year old Matthew Tabb making his first start this year. Tabb topped that effort with another calm strike five minutes later and when  Alderdice stroked home the third after an amazing burst of pace from the forever young Tranter with barely twenty minutes gone it was game over. Two sublime through balls from Matthew Bowen to his strike partner Phil Tranter who finished superbly served only to pile on the agony for an increasingly ragged Risca United who have been the end of some horrible hammerings over the past couple of months.

The second half was a more scrappy affair with neither side able to get any fluency to their play but two goals from Bowen again following great work by Tranter and a confident strike by Dean Palmer posted the final scores for Monmouth dissected by a goal from the hard working and dangerous Andrew Gay for the visitors that served as scant consolation. 

New boss Robin Pick ermeged from his first game more than happy with the result and the performance. "Risca aren't a bad team and they can certainly put it about but we had a plan and we stuck to it and got the result. We had four out today but Tabb and Luke Harris have come in and done a fantastic job for us and Justin Harris returning was also a boost. Bowen and Tranter are on fire at the moment and will be hard for anyone to stop in the mood they're in and as for Jack Alderdice; if there's a better midfielder in this division I haven't seen him.

We must remember that we're only half way through the season and we're cliimbing the table but certainly not out of danger. We just have to keep racking up the victories"

This Saturday Town are home to Troedyrhiw (kick off 2pm)

Rampant Kingfishers Not So Civil
Saturday 24th January 2009
Monmouth Town 5 Newport Civil Service 0

Monmouth Town's Kingfishers put in their best performance of the season and humbled Gwent County Champions Newport Civil Service and in the process went one better than the last time the visitors had come to Monmouth; that time a 5 - 1 reverse on a balmy night in April 2007.

If anything this vistory was even more comprehensive as high flying Civil rarely threatened the Town goal and looked desparately short on ideas and committment all afternoon in stark contract to the Kingfisher line up which saw every player putting in man of the match performnces. None more so than strike duo Bowen and Tranter with Bowen restored to the starting line up and again forming an effective partnership which caused the Civil defence problems all afternoon. Commanding midfield performances from Alderdice and Kennedy formed the platform for a wholly derserved victory which was secured with a  flurry of three goals in a five minute spell before the break.

First Tranter converted from a corner flicked on by Bowen for his third in his three games so far then Spence got his second senior goal meeting a superb delivery from Dean Palmer with a bullet header before Bowen got his reward, chipping the goalkeeper from the edge of the area. 

The second half continued in a similar vein as Civil visibly wilted and Alderdice headed in from a corner on the hour. Smith and Tranter forced two great saves from the visiting keeper before substitute Sam McCoy finished proceedings with a cool finish after Davies had won three strong challenges to set him up for a clear run on goal.

Stand in Manager Barry Burns was delighted with the win "That was just awesome. Everyone was just magnificent today and if we can turn in those performances week in week out we can beat anyone" Singling out Bowen for particular praise he continued "Boucher was terrific today and seems to relish his partnership with Tranter. He's been on the bench for the last couple of games but has responded brilliantly when he's come on. When he's up for it there's no one better in this division. He doesn't give defenders a moments peace."

Kingfishers Slay Saints
Saturday 17th January 2009
Monmouth Town 3 Merthyr Saints 2

Another home win, this time against bottom club Merthry Saints pushed Monmouth Town's Kingfishers up three places in their fight for Welsh League survival and were made to sweat as Merthyr threatened to snatch a draw courtesy of a bizarre goal in the dying minutes.

In a dire first half there were few chances for either side, although good work on occasions by Sam Palmer and Sam McCoy could have brought more positive results as shots flew high and wide and a galring Merthry miss may have proved costly for Town.

The second half promsied more of the same until the introduction of Bowen on the hour and his immediate rapport with Tranter led to confusion in the Merthyr defence and Dean Palmer capitalised with a sweet strike on the hour from the edge of the box.

The Tranter - Bowen combination was evident just a few minutes later as a great run and cross by the former was converted gleefully by the latter and Town looked home and dry. Tranter added a third on 80 minutes to add what looked like a gloss on the proceedings.

Merthyr had other ideas and threw bodies forward to at least try to make a game of the last few minutes and were rewarded with an easily converted header from a corner, missed a number of  other good opportunties before an amazing 'goal that wasn't' was claimed by the less than holy Saints and, to the disgust of most of the Monmouth players, given by the referee. Town captain Jack Alderdice explained "The ball struck the stanchion behind the goal from a shot and came back into play. To be honest we all stopped at that point but one of their lads has popped it back into the goal. I was amazed when they claimed it and the ref pointed to the centre circle. Luckily it didn't cost us anything and we could afford to have a laugh about it afterwards."

Chairman Lee Robson spending his final week on dug out duties commented after the game "I'm delighted we've manged to get clear of the bottom three but there's still a long way to go.  We've had to manage without our permanent manager for a number of weeks now and that has been unsettling for some of the players. They've stuck at it and we've taken 10 from the last fifteen on offer so there's some food for thought when he gets back next week." 

Town Gunned Down by Goytre
Saturday 3rd January 2009
Monmouth Town 1 Goytre 2

Goytre took the spoils in the season's first Monmouthshire derby edging past a spirited Kingfishers performance that once again failed by the odd goal.

Town arguably had the better of the first half and were kept at bay by some superb goalkeeping by Williams in the visitors goal and a tight back line that did well against Kingfishers debutant Phil Tranter playing his first game for three months and looking strong and direct on the counter.  Indeed Tranter should have done a little better with one good chance and a number of half chances weren't converted while Goytre looked to have more joy rampaging down the Kingfisghers left, pegging back Sam Palmer but most efforts were kept to a distance in a goalless first half. 

Goytre came out stronger in the second half and again looked to exploit the space down Town's flanks as the increasingly desperate home defence tried to stem the constant flow of attacks. Town however were aslo capable of producing their own attacks and again should have converted at least one of a number of shooting opportunties.

A change on the hour was designed to shore up the back line and rejuvenate the attack at the same time and in some senses it worked with Town suddenly producing some better attacking play with substitute Bowen immediately forging a good understanding with Traneter and the back four looking more solid. Paradoxically the withdrawal of Luke Harris created a vulnerability at set peices that was exploited on 72 minutes as a near post throw was helped on and across the area and a scuffed shot found the corner to give Goytre the lead.

Perhaps sensing that Monmouth were far from beaten the Goytre side began running down the cliock at every opportuntiy and with only 7 minutes remaining another near post throw to the Goytre substitute proved the undoing of a lot of hard work as he bamboozled Spence and finished at Williams' near post.

There was still time for Bowen to set up Alderdice for a wild attempt that was converted a the back post by Tranter and a number of other efforts that on another day may have earned a point for the Town. As it was the Kingfishers were left to reflect on another defeat and the prospect ot table toppers Llantwit Fardre 's visit next week.

Stand in Manager Barry Burns was disappointed with the result but remained upbeat about the performance. " We have to take the positives out of the game mainly that we haven't rolled over and they were clearly worried about us for long periods of the game. We certainly aren't pushovers any more and I thought Tranter did well on his first run out and Bowen did well when he came on. I made a tactical change to try and stop them getting behind us and maybe give them something to think about up front. From that point of view it worked as we played some good stuff after the change but we've been done by some poor defending at two throw ins and have to try and cut out silly mistakes like that".
 

McCoy and Alderdice at the Double
Saturday 27th December 2008
Monmouth Town 5 Cwmaman Institute 0

A blistering brace from Sam McCoy and two deft headers from skipper Jack Alderdice put the icing on the Christmas cake as the Kingfishers moved out of the relegation zone with their best home win for three years and inflicting Cwmaman's worst defeat in their Welsh League campaigns.

A remodelled line up made sure the Town were more compact than in recent games and in the absence of skipper Smith, Davies returned to command the back line with Dean Palmer in a more comfortable advanced position. It was Palmer who won the first decisive free kick decision on 17 minutes and up stepped McCoy to whip the ball over the wall and into the Cwmaman net from 25 yards to settle the post Christmas nerves. Fears that the festivities would have a negative effect on the young Kingfishers were further laid to rest when Alderdice met another set piece with a glancing header to make it two and then set up Bowen whose first touch was sublime and his finsh efficient.

Three up at half time Town could have been forgiven for shutting up shop and taking the points but instead continued to try to keep a high tempo for the second half with Palmer getting more joy and the midfield dominating before Alderdice again made a good connection with a Palmer free kick to make it four. There was still time for McCoy to rattle a fifth from 30 yards to seal the win and a point blank save from the again impressive Williasm kept the town's first clean sheet for four months intact.

Track suited Chairman Lee Robson was delighted with the result "There was a real bounce to us today despite a bit too much Christmas Pud but maybe that made us a little bit more relaxed. The Lads are responding well to fairly simple but direct instructions about what they have to do and when and I think they can now see that if we keep doing the basics well then we can build on that and get a bit more expansive".

Robson also announced the signing of experienced striker Phil Tranter from Undy Athletic who will be available from next week "I am delighted than Phil has agreed to sign for us as he caused us all sorts of problems when he's played agaisnt us in the past and I have wanted to get him here for a couple of seasons. He's strong, direct and scores goals. He's got a lot of experieince and will be a great help to the younger lads".    

Cool Head Luke Grabs A Point

Saturday December 20th 2008

Monmouth Town 1 Pontyclun 1

A last minute strike from point blank range by defender Luke Harris grabbed a well earned draw for the Kingfisherss and kept their survival hopes on track.

Possibly fielding the youngest ever starting line up the Town were hoping to take the confidence of the last game into the match against high flying Pontyclun making their first visit to Monmouth. The preparation was undone in the first minute as tackles were missed and claearnce failed and although Ponty missed three srtrikes on goal in a goalmouth melee they were awared a penalty as Smith was adjudged to have handled on the line. Williams, making his first start for two months in place of the flu ridden Roberts, was given no chance with the spot kick. 

For the rest of the half however Town took the game to an increasingly frustrated Pontyclun who seemed surprised by the tenacity of the Kingfishers midfield and the competence of its backline, again superbly organised by Smith. As the half progressed it looked like the Town would get at least an equaliser but they had to be alert to the threat posed by Pontyclun whose two strikers, particualry the right winger who looked capable of unlocking the defence at will.

Once again Town's strikers wanted too much time to put away opportunities; more than once tackled in possession and failing to get strikes on goal. McCoy came closest, hitting the bar from distance and the half ended with Town still with a goal to get.

The second half was a similar affair but again chances went begging for both sides with some offside decisions saving defensive blushes. Pontyclun had four efforts dissallowed. Some correctly and some as offside strikers couldn't resist the final touch. Williams also pulled of some superb saves.

As the game looked to have a familiar hard luck stroy about from Town's point of view, Palmer's corner kick was headed back across goal by Bowen and Harris did the rest.

Town Win At Last
Saturday 6th December 2008
Ystradgynlais 1 Monmouth Town 2

Monmouth Town's Kingfishers registered their first win in three months on a glorious day in the Swansea Valleys. A cool strike by Sam Palmer and a looping header by man of the match Dan Spence three minutes from time gave the Kingfishers three points and pushed them one place up the table in their quest for Welsh League survival.

It started well for the Town as McCoy, Palmer and Bowen caused problems for the home defence, while the returning Smith in an unfamiliar sweeper's role marshalled the defence superbly and restricted Ystradgynlais to speculative efforts. The game was goalless at half time and Town looked comfortable enough to be confident of some kind of favourable result.

As so often happens the home side came out visibly quicker in the second half and dominated the midfield but again were kept at bay by Spence Davies and Smith. With half an hour remaining the pressure told and a cross was converted smartly by the home striker.

The Kingfishers' forward play was suffiiciently dull as to offer no way back into the game but substitutes Houldsworth and Cleaves added some much needed nuisance value and Cleaves' composure paid off with just ten minutes remaining as his pull back was finished smartly by Sam Palmer. Spence's header handed all three points to the Town. Assistant Coach Barry Burns was pleased to get the win but added some words of caution. "It was great to get a result but to be honest we've played better and lost. What we did do well was try to stick to the script and hopefully the lads will now realise that if we keep doing the right things and making the oppostion work then results will keep coming"  

Town Edged Out At The Last
Saturday 29th November 2008
Monmouth 1 AFC Porth 2
With two minutes remaining Monmouth Town's young Kingfishers were heading for well deserved point and looking more likely to cap a fine second half performance with a winner against a Porth side beaten only once in two seasons. Cue Matthew Bowen 's tireless run which was ended illegally and as the referee pointed to the spot. Up stepped Sam McCoy hoping to gain the Town's first win for three months. The dismay as his spot kick was saved spread panic through the side and within a minute the referee had evened things up as he awarded a penalty to the visitors. At a stroke all of the hard work was undone and Town were once again left rueing what might have been and remain stranded seven points adrift of safety.

It hadn’t started too brightly for the Kingfishers as they struggled to contain an experienced Porth side containing several members of Andy Beattie's old Merthyr Tydfil side who although having a weight advantage still had more quality and experience than the Town's finest. Palmer did manage to find his way past sweeper Needs but was upended and a deliberate handball was punished by only a yellow card.

Porth went ahead with a header from a corner and the Kingfishers could have wilted under more pressure but got stronger as the half wore on with Palmer McCoy adn Bowen qall goping close.

The socend half however was differnt story as Town kept pressing an increasingly worried Porth team. Luke Harris on for injured namesake Justin added a bit of composure to the back line and McCoy and Palmer were a constant source of discomfort. Tabb and Ford again looked lively in midfiled and Alderdice and Davies were their ususal dependable selves.

The Kingfishers got their reward with fifteen minutes remaining as a superb Spence free kick was glanced home by Bowen. Town even had time to miss clear chances as first Spence then Alderidce missed good opportunities The referee had the final say.

Kingfishers Slump In the Mud
Saturday 22nd November 2008
Aberbargoed Buds 2 Monmouth Town 1

Monmouth Town's relegation fears deepened losing a classic six pointer against a game Aberbargoed on a freezing afternoon in the Gwent Valleys.

And yet the Kingfishers started brightly and for 25 minutes looked the most likely to. Bowen opened the scoring finishing smartly from a great McCoy through ball and stand in captain Alderdice and debutant Ford looking comfortable in midfield.

As half time approached the Town had reason to be confident having successfully kept the home team at bay until a corner was turned back inside and in for the equaliser. A minute later Roberts conceded a penalty which was blasted over by the home skipper.

The reprieve was short lived however as The Buds started much the better in the second half and although having most of the possession struggled to find the killer touch. It was finally provided when Town failed to clear their lines and Roberts was exposed dropping the ball to the feet of a grateful Buds striker.

Barry Burns, standing in for Andy Beattie remained upbeat despite the scoreline which leaves the Kingfishers firmly rooted in the relegation zone "We've worked on our set up for three weeks and we started really well, The defence was superb particularly Kennedy, Davies and Spence and Ford did everything that was asked of him given it was his first start.  For the first half hour I couldn't see us losing the game. If anything we lacked quality clearing our lines in the second half and we looked a bit tired. It was probably the youngest side we've ever sent out so there are some positives we can take from the game. Our discipline was much better and we at least tried to stick to what we wanted to do. The important thing is to keep doing the right things and we'll be fine". 

Next Saturday Town are at home to high flying newcomers AFC Porth (kick off 2pm)

Town Ship Points To Ferry
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 surreal nature 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 misjudged 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 12^th 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”.

26th and 27th April 2008

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. "