A LATE George Gouldingay strike from close range ensured Monmouth Town FC beat Coed Eva Athletic after Dan Macdonald`s fifth-minute free-kick provided an early lead.
Sam Oxley`s barnstorming run won the Kingfishers a free-kick on the edge of the box, and Macdonald whipped it past the Coed keeper into the far right corner.
But the Kingfishers were dealt a blow when Mitchel Palmer went off injured, and they struggled to unlock Coed`s defence in the first half and squandered several chances in the second before Gouldingay struck five minutes from time.
The match was former Kingfisher player Sam Palmer`s first as joint-first team coach after Nick Harrhy`s departure, with Town unbeaten in three and following Welsh Cup victory against Cymru South Newport City.
After Macdonald’s perfect start, the hosts enjoyed lots of possession and Macdonald went close from outside the box, with his shot tipped over by the Coed keeper.
Oxley then cut on to his right foot and fired, but the Coed keeper made a diving save.
Coed were sitting back in a low block and reducing space, looking to hit Monmouth on the counter-attack.
And they had their first chance minutes into the second half when their winger picked the ball up 20 yards out, but his effort went wide.
Some passing on the edge of Monmouth`s box then resulted in a Coed midfielder unleashing an effort which was easily smothered by goalkeeper Dan Keane.
Monmouth then enjoyed good chances, captain Ashley Ford`s volley going just the wrong side of the left post and James Greaney`s effort in the box also just wide.
But they finally scored their second to ensure maximum points and another clean sheet, with Gouldingay firing into the bottom right corner after a great ball across goal from substitute Greaney.
Monmouth are yet to concede a goal at the Sportsground this season and sit eighth in the Gwent Premier top tier having played fewer games than some above.
The 2nds also won 2-1 away To Caldicot Town 3rds thanks to goals from Henry Williams and Sam Williams.
The Kingfishers next welcome Newport Saints on Saturday, October 12, while the 2nds host Undy 3rds this Saturday.