MONMOUTH Town had victory clutched away from them deep in stoppage time at Abertillery Excelsiors in a midweek Gwent Premier top tier clash.

The high-flying hosts took the lead after seven minutes, but it lasted just seconds as Josh Maksimovic levelled for the Kingfishers almost straight from the kick-off.

Josh Maksimovic fired a brace for the Kingfishers
Josh Maksimovic fired a brace for the Kingfishers (Monmouth Town FC)

And in Nick Harrhy's last league game as team boss, the striker put them 2-1 up six minutes into the second half, which stayed the score until the dying moments, when Excelsiors agonisingly equalised four minutes into added time.

The result leaves Monmouth eighth in the 16-strong table.

Elsewhere, Usk Town celebrated a first win of the season, 3-1 at Chepstow's Thornwell R&W on Saturday, to climb off the bottom of Gwent Premier 2.

James Noon fired Usk in front after 15 minutes and it was 2-0 at the break after a 34th-minute effort from Jordan Loydall.

Jamie Guscott pulled one back with 15 minutes to play, but Town were not be denied, Loydall securing the points with his second in the final minute.

And they get to do it all again at Thornwell this Saturday in a back-to-back reverse fixture.

Usk 2nds also almost secured a first point in a battling 4-3 home defeat to high-flying Clydach Wasps 2nds in Gwent Central 2, Matt Cartwright (15 mins), Josh Galletly (53) and Jamie Hawke (93) with the goals.

But at the other end of the table, unbeaten Glascoed marched on with a 5-1 win at home to Fairfield United Dev, Dawson Stubbs giving them the lead right on half-time before second-half goals from Ryan Martin (53), Kevin Andrews (59), Stubbs again (65) and John Jones (79).

Redbrook Rovers secured their first league win beating top-two Staunton & Corse 2nds at home in North Gloucestershire One thanks to goals from Dan Heaven and Sam Hamley.

But their 2nds had to give second best by the same score away to Rank Outsiders, Ralph Heaven-Richards with the consolation.

Chepstow Town travel to Abergavenny Town on Friday night (September 27) in the Ardal South East League, while Monmouth Town 1st XI host Coed Eva Athletic in the Gwent Premier top tier on Saturday.

Other fixtures the same afternoon (September 28) include – Caldicot Town 3rds v Monmouth Town 2nds, Chepstow Town 2nds v Abertillery Bluebirds 2nds, Thornwell R&W v Usk Town, Tintern Abbey v Rockfield Rovers, Ross Juniors v Redbrook Rovers, Redbrook Rovers 2nds v Mitcheldean 2nds, Usk Town 2nds v Prescoed, Thornwell R&W 2nd v Chepstow Town 3rds.