IT proved a week of two halves for the Kingfishers as their 1st XI won 3-0 in their first home game of the season in midweek before falling 5-2 away to Pill on Saturday.

Two goals from Ebrima Ndure on 35 and 51 minutes and one from Ash Ford deep in stoppage time secured Gwent Premier victory over RTB Ebbw Vale on Wednesday night, as the end of the cricket season saw football finally return to the Sports Ground.

But the 5-2 defeat on Saturday proved a bitter Pill, as two first half goals from Taylor Street, the second in injury time, and a second half Ben Lawrence hat-trick saw the Newport hosts take the points in the GP top tier mid-table clash.

Dan Macdonald made it 2-1 for the Kingfishers shortly after the break, but Lawrence's three goal strike in 20 minutes sank their challenge, despite George Gouldingay popping up with a late consolation.

Defeat saw Pill leapfrog the visitors to eighth, with Monmouth now in ninth.

But it was high fives all round as Monmouth's 2nds opened their East Gwent One campaign with a thumping 5-1 win at home to Chepstow Town 3rds on Saturday.

Goals from Freddie Kemsley (4/25), Alex Hammerton (14) and Lamin Ndure put the hosts in complete control.

And although the Jockeys pulled one back just after the break, Kyron Smith added a fifth with 15 minutes to play.

Monmouth's 1st XI are on the road again this Saturday (September 14) at Caerleon in the County Motors Cup, followed by Cwmffrwdoer Sports at home on Wednesday night (September 18) and Newport City away the following Saturday (September 21) in the first round proper of the JD Cymru Welsh Cup.