Welsh League Division One - Monmouth Town 4-3 Risca United

AFTER a great deal of hard work to get the pitch in a playable condition, Monmouth Sportsground was ready to host a much anticipated relegation battle between Monmouth Town and Risca United, which would certainly determine each sides season.

Manager Andrew Smith made two changes to his side that convincingly beat Garden Village, bringing in experienced centre back Ben Evans for Jacob Guy as well as Elliot Ford coming back into the side for Callum Porter.

The Kingfishers started the game the brighter of the two sides, playing their fast flowing counter attacking football and keeping possession well. However, it was the Cuckoos who had the first chance of the game when Kingfishers defender Ashley Ford was dispossessed outside of his team’s box. With the Risca striker one-on-one with Town stopper Keiron Blackburn, he attempted to take it around Blackburn, with only Ashley Ford’s block off the line preventing a goal.

The Kingfishers then had a chance of their own when Dan Macdonald played a through ball to Richard Greaves. Greaves beat his man and passed the ball across goal finding team mate Elliot Ford, who drilled his shot at the keeper. With the keeper pushing the shot straight back to Elliot, he could only put the rebound just wide.

Shortly after, the Town took the lead when they were awarded a penalty. Elliot Ford beat his man and ran at the Cuckoos’ defence, before being taken down from behind. Dan Macdonald stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted it into the bottom right corner.

The Kingfishers grew into the game, playing their midfield rotations and combination play. Soon after, their dominance paid off when Nick Harrhy went past his man and ran down the by-line crossing in, finding Elliot Ford whose shot was blocked off the line coming out to Richard Greaves who then calmly placed the rebound into the bottom corner.

The Cuckoos immediately replied when their midfielder ran at the Kingfishers back four, having all the time in the world he took an ambitious shot to find the bottom left corner. Just before half time Risca had a golden opportunity to draw the scores when Ashley Ford was again dispossessed outside of his box. Team-mate Sam Palmer won the ball back before too being dispossessed. With the Risca striker one-on-one with Keiron Blackburn, he came agonisingly close, with only the crossbar preventing a goal.

Risca started the second half like they finished the first, keeping the ball well and looking to set their attacking players away in the final third. They pushed for the equaliser and got it in the 55th minute when Risca’s striker beat his man inside the box. With the striker brought down from behind from Ashley Ford, the referee awarded the penalty which was successfully converted.

Risca continued to keep the pressure on Monmouth and wouldn’t settle for the draw, coming close to a potential winner on the hour mark when Risca’s striker turned Ben Evans and hit the bar.

The visitors’ pressure paid off when Alex O’Leary lost the ball in the left corner with the Risca winger squaring it, finding his team mate, who took a touch and placed it into the bottom right corner leaving Blackburn no chance.

Behind for the first time in the game, the Kingfishers immediately found the equaliser when Sam Palmer beat his man and floated a ball into the box, finding Dan Macdonald who volleyed it into the bottom corner.

Both teams continued to battle through the elements until the Town who found the winner when a scramble in the box occurred, with a Risca defender handling the ball. Again the referee pointed to the spot and Dan Macdonald for a second time stepped up to take it and, just like the first, he placed it into the bottom right corner to complete his hat-trick.

Manager Andrew Smith was frustrated to see his side throw away a two goal lead, but said that they showed “great character” to secure the win.

“It’s the same old story. We were 2-0 up and cruising and then we give them a leg to stand on.

“Individual errors gave us a mountain to climb but to be fair to the lads they bounced back and showed great character to come back and get the three points.”

The Kingfishers are next home to Penybont on the 12th March looking to build on their win and confirm their in Welsh League Division One status.