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 from 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." Town are looking to move further from the relegation zone when they entertain Cwmamman United at home this Saturday Kick off 2pm.
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 from 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." Town are looking to move further from the relegation zone when they entertain Cwmamman United at home this Saturday Kick off 2pm.