Welsh League Division One - Goytre 5 Monmouth Town 2

ON a miserable, rain sodden November afternoon a new chapter in Monmouth Town’s history began with former player Ross Kennedy at the helm against top of the league side Goytre.

Monmouth needed a win from the game after their 7-3 humiliation in the Welsh Cup second round to Ynysgerwern, but got off to the worst possible start when they found themselves 3-0 down in the first half.

Dan Spence headed in to give the Kingfishers hope before the break, but former Monmouth player Josh Brown re-established the home side’s advantage with an impressive solo goal after half time.

An unlikely comeback seemed possible when Dafydd Jones tapped in after Goytre went down to 10 men, but a late fifth for Goytre left Monmouth second from bottom.

New Town manager Kennedy, who played for the Kingfishers for more than 15 years, was appointed on Wednesday to succeed the departing Andrew Smith and his main aim will be to keep the Kingfishers in the league. Ahead of the tricky Gwent clash, he made four changes to the side who got humiliated by Ynysgerwern, bringing in Luke Cleaves for Alex O’Leary, Kazeem Kareem for Sam Manful, Elliot Ford for Craig Lewis and Lee Williams for Ben Taylor.

Monmouth started the game off positively and had a few half chances in the opening minutes, but a lack of organisation and discipline saw them a goal down. A floated cross into the box found Goytre’s target man who headed it down for former Monmouth player Dan Macdonald on the edge of the box. Macdonald took a touch and shot and somehow his shot trickled into the net.  

Goytre’s goal gave them confidence and, minutes later, they doubled their lead when once again a long ball was flicked on by their striker Lewis Sommers finding former Monmouth player Josh Brown who calmly slotted it into the bottom corner.

Goytre continued to dominate proceedings and the Kingfishers just couldn’t adapt to their route one football. Goytre scored their third when their goalkeeper found Sommers who again flicked the ball on and his teammate ran onto it and slotted it home past Williams.

The Town managed to keep the ball better after their early setback and had some very good spells of possession but just lacked quality in the final third. They gained a deserved goal back moments later when Sam Palmer floated a corner into the box which found Dan Spence at the back post, whose header flew into the top corner.

Spence’s goal gave the Kingfishers some much needed confidence and they dominated the later stages of the half. They had great opportunities to get another goal back when Jake Robinson shot wide when one on one with the keeper and when Sam Palmer’s shot went just over the woodwork but the score at half time remained 3-1.

Monmouth started the second half like they finished the first and Goytre couldn’t deal with their pace out wide, but against the run of play Goytre winger Josh Brown scored a magnificent solo goal when he cut in on his right foot and his shot flew into the top corner, leaving Williams no chance.

Moments later Monmouth were given a lifeline when Brown was sent off for a late challenge on Ashley Ford. The Kingfishers didn’t give up and kept attacking at Goytre with real intensity, earning their reward when Luke Cleaves whipped a ball into the box which Goytre’s keeper came out to punch. His punch went up in the air and Elliot Ford headed towards goal and Dafydd Jones was there to tap it home.

The Town never gave up and showed great passion and desire to get back level. They had some great opportunities to get a goal back including when Jones forced the keeper into making a magnificent diving save and when Robinson whipped a ball across goal and Goytre’s defender cleared the ball but his clearance hit the post.

With time running out Monmouth had a golden chance to get a third when Elliot Ford forced Goytre’s stopper into a magnificent diving save, but substitute Craig Lewis’ follow-up shot was blocked off the line.

Goytre then went straight up the other end and finished the game off in style when Goytre’s striker intercepted Mitchell Palmer’s header and chipped Williams.

Manager Ross Kennedy described the loss as “frustrating” and “harsh”. He said “You can’t expect to go 3-0 down in the first 20 minutes of a game and get something out of it but I thought the passion and desire we showed was extremely pleasing and on another day I felt we could have got something out of that game”.

The Kingfishers are away to fellow strugglers Port Talbot Town next week in what is a must win game.