THE Kingfishers kicked on into the last eight of the Gwent Premier County Motors Cup on Saturday, holding off a Caerleon fightback to win 4-3.

Visitors Monmouth took the lead through an own goal eight minutes before half-time and doubled it just five minutes later through a strike from the returning Josh Maksimovic – back from Risca United – with Mitchell providing the assist.

Caerleon struck back three minutes into the second half from the penalty spot, but the Kingfishers reclaimed a two-goal lead on 60 minutes through a second Maksimovic goal, set up by Rob Laurie.

The hosts pulled it back to 3-2 with just over 20 minutes to play, but Caerleon striker Jay Arnold saw red for a second yellow three minutes later, swiftly followed by his team boss for over zealous protestations.

Monmouth immediately capitalised, Mitchell Palmer feeding Rob Laurie to make it 4-2 within a minute.

Both sides then rang the changes in the closing stages with a total of eight substitutions.

And Caerleon scored again deep in stoppage time but it was too little too late as the Kingfishers held on to go through.

There's little rest for Town, who go again away to Abertillery Excelsiors in the Gwent Premier top tier on Wednesday night (September 18), before facing Newport City at home on Saturday (September 21), kick-off 2pm, where they will be hoping to spring a shock on the JD Cymru South outfit.

Chepstow Town, who didn't play at the weekend, are also in Welsh Cup action on Saturday at home to Pill.

Elsewhere, Monmouth's Rockfield Rovers were sunk 5-1 at home by Severn Tunnel in an East Gwent 2 table top battle.

The game was pretty much decided with three early goals in four minutes, as Tunnel raced into a 3-0 lead just 12 minutes in.

That became 4-0 after 34 minutes and 5-0 just three minutes later.

Rockfield could have crumbled, but to their credit Tommy Tynan pulled one back just before the break and they fought out a 0-0 second half.

Chepstow Town 3rds also fell to a 4-1 defeat at home to Caldicot Castle in EG1 despite taking an eighth-minute lead.

Castle were level within a minute and went on to dominate before remarkably losing two men to red cards in second half injury time.

Chepstow outfit Thornwell R&W 2nds triumphed away to Undy 3rds though, Logan Jones putting them 1-0 up in the first minute before going on to win 4-2.

And unbeaten EG2 table toppers Glascoed were on fire, winning 6-0 away to Usk 2nds in midweek thanks to a Dawson Stubbs hat-trick (21, 77, 82) and goals from Kevin Andrews (13), Ryan Martin (47) and Shane Davies (56).

And a Shane Davies penalty six minutes into stoppage time secured a last-gasp 2-1 win away to Mardy 2nds on Saturday after Stubbs had put them 1-0 up in the first half only for the hosts to level three minutes later.

But Redbrook Rovers lost by the same score at home to Tidenham in North Gloucestershire One, Sam Hamley and Lewis Tyler with their goals.

And the Wyeside club's 2nds lost out 5-0 away to Ellwood 2nds in NG3.

As well as the two big Welsh Cup matches for Monmouth and Chepstow, other games this Saturday include – Chepstow Town 2nds v Abertillery Bluebirds 2nds, Thornwell R&W v Usk Town, Glascoed v Fairfield Utd Dev, Redbrook Rovers v Staunton & Corse 2nds, Usk Town 2nds v Clydach Wasps 2nds, Rank Outsiders v Redbrook Rovers 2nds.