East Gwent One

Monmouth Town 2nds 1 Sudbrook CC FC 2

WITH the Kingfishers 1st XI's weekend game off at Coed Eva Athletic due to a wet pitch, the 2nds took centre stage on Saturday in a crucial table top game at home to East Gwent One leaders Sudbrook CCFC, reports JAMES TOWNLEY.

It was a quick start from the hosts, as the referee awarded a penalty after just seconds of play, Lamin Ndure stepping up to take it only to be denied by Sudbrook keeper Joshua Brown.

The visitors then broke free on the counterattack, and Luke Evans put his side in front after just four minutes with a strong strike past Kingfishers' keeper Theo Bowen.

But 13 minutes later, Monmouth hit back with an equaliser, Ndure seeing his initial shot saved, but picking up the rebound to find the back of the net at the second time of asking.

Lamin Ndure launches an attack for the Kingfishers.
Lamin Ndure launches an attack for the Kingfishers (James Townley)

It took just two minutes though for the visitors to retake the lead, as Jamie Watkins headed on a Brown goal kick to Evans whose strike was too good for the goalkeeper.

Monmouth reacted and almost equalised once more with Ndure playing David Elworthy through on goal whose shot was hit just wide of the near post.

Sudbrook then had a chance to extend their lead after a poor back pass from the hosts; Watkins intercepted it, but then hit it well over the bar after being one-on-one with the keeper.

The referee brought the end to an action-packed first half with Sudbrook CC leading 2-1 thanks to Evans' brace.

And as the second half began, it was clear the visitors were looking to maintain their advantage, as they piled players into defence.

A Kingfishers player weaves his way through two defenders
A Kingfishers player weaves his way through two defenders (James Townley)

Sub Sam Oxley played a great ball to Lucas Harris, who had run in behind the Sudbrook defence, but his shot fizzed wide of the near post.

George Gouldingay then made a great run in midfield and played Oxley through on goal who hit his shot over the bar.

Ndure created the next chance, as he played a fabulous ball into the box which found the head of Harris who headed it wide.

With the game entering the final ten minutes, the hosts were desperate for an equaliser as they kept producing chance after chance.

Monmouth’s last opening was a ball into the box which players scrambled to clear before it found Jake Lewis, who skied his shot well over the bar.

As the final whistle went, the visitors could finally celebrate a superb defensive performance, leaving the Kingfishers thinking about what could have been after producing so many opportunities.

The result means the Kingfishers can no longer win the league, with Sudbrook now set to go head-to-head with Caldicot Castle for the title.

First team manager Henry Williams said: "Saturday was a tough one to take for the team and everyone involved.

"First half we were nowhere near the standards we have shown this season, but in the second half, to create as many chances as we did and not get a goal back was tough.

"That being said, I cannot fault the effort put into the second half, and it shows that in football you can have days that just don’t go your way.”

Having beaten Rogerstone 1-0 away last week thanks to a 61st-minute Josh Maksimovic goal, the 1sts repeated the result at Clydach Wasps on Wednesday night (April 23), Dan MacDonald with the only goal after 59 minutes, strengthening their grip on third in the Gwent Premier top tier.

They travel to play top of the league Cwmbran Town on Saturday (April 26), while the 2nds host Caldicot Castle and three days later play them (Tuesday, April 29) again at home in their final game of the season.

Meanwhile, Monmouth Comprehensive School’s Welsh Schools FA U18 final against Bryntirion is on Wednesday, April 30, at Merthyr Town’s Penydarren Park, kick-off 2pm.