Gwent Premier League Premier Division

Monmouth Town FC 3 Clydach Wasps 1

THE Kingfishers defeated Clydach Wasps in thrilling style in an important league game, as the season entered its second half, reports JAMES TOWNLEY.

Monmouth looked to extend their unbeaten league run to 11 games and did so with another commanding performance.

Town started the game on the front foot, threatening with an early free-kick taken by Dan Macdonald, only for it to hit the wall.

But with just nine minutes on the clock, Monmouth opened the scoring thanks to a fabulous Ebrima Ndure header from a Finley Thorp cross from the edge of the box.

Goalscorer Ndure gives chase
Goalscorer Ebrima Ndure gives chase. (James Townley)

Town then won a free-kick in a promising position on the right side of the opposition box, with Luke Cleaves getting onto the end of a rebound, and the ball almost going over the line, but the referee didn’t give it.

George Gouldingay and Ashley Ford both tried long shots from the edge of the box as Town pressed for a second.

But the Wasps then sent a warning with their first chance, as Corey Paton found himself through on goal only for Kingfishers keeper Ethan Ross to deny him with a save.

Town continued to put Clydach on the back foot, with Macdonald forcing David Pearce in goal into another save.

But the referee ended the first half with no further score, and Monmouth holding a narrow 1-0 advantage.

That changed seven minutes into the second half when Dan Spence was pushed in the box and a penalty was awarded to the Kingfishers.

And England Schoolboys cap Macdonald stepped up and scored, placing the ball in the bottom right corner for a 2-0 lead.

Former Abergavenny Town player Paton then looked to get Wasps back into the game, finding space on the right, but his shot from the edge of the box went just wide of the post.

Monmouth Town are going strong in the league in fourth, with games in hand on those above
Monmouth Town are going strong in the league in fourth, with games in hand on those above. (James Townley)

And in short order the hosts then extended their lead to 3-0, with a Macdonald free-kick on 55 minutes swung into the box, and David Elworthy's touch finding Gouldingay who placed it past the keeper.

It then went from bad to worse for the visitors on 74 minutes as they went down to ten men when defender Rhys Tutton saw red for a second yellow card.

Wasps did secure a consolation four minutes from normal time, with Paton fouled on the edge of the box and firing home a quickly-taken free-kick.

But as the final whistle blew, it was Monmouth who took all three points to go fourth in the league table.

First team manager Sam Palmer said: “It was one of our better performances today, especially off the ball. We were really on it today, our bite was really good in terms of pressing and closing them down.

"On the ball we did really well, we scored the three goals, but probably could have scored a couple more.”

Forward Gouldingay added: “I thought we started really well. When we get the ball down on the floor and we're playing it into each other's feet, trusting each other, creating chances, we can play any team in our league off the park.

"Towards the end, the standard dropped a bit, but it's to be expected when we're freeing it up.”

Meanwhile, Monmouth’s 2nds advanced into the final of the East Gwent Harry Gill Cup, beating Caldicot Town 3rds 2-0 away, with first half goals from Harry Wilson and Henry Williams.

The Kingfishers travel to Newport Saints in league action this weekend, having beaten them at home in the Gwent Cup a week last Saturday, as they look to extend their unbeaten league run to 12 games.

The 2nds host Caldicot Castle in a third v second East Gwent One league match.