Gwent Premier League
Monmouth Town 3 New Inn 2
THE Kingfishers secured a crucial win against Pontypool-based New Inn in a five-goal epic, reports JAMES TOWNLEY.
Goals from Ebrima Ndure, Craig Lewis and Dan Macdonald were enough to give Monmouth the win and extend their unbeaten streak to eight games.
Despite being level with just a couple minutes left on the clock, former England Schoolboys cap Macdonald executed his usual late magic to score the winner.
The game started evenly, with both sides having opportunities in the opening minutes.
The visitors had the best chance early on, winning a free-kick on the edge of the box which Bayley Loder fired just over the crossbar.
Monmouth reacted quickly, getting the ball to Macdonald in the opposition box, who after some sublime skill was able to make his way around the New Inn defenders only to be unable to find a teammate with his pass.
But it was New Inn who struck first in the 27th minute as Cameron Jennings found some space on the left side of the box and fired the ball into the corner of the goal off the post.
The hosts soon faced another setback as Jacob Perrella collided heads with an opponent, forcing him to come off the field and be replaced by Lewis.
But the Kingfishers then equalised on 36 minutes after winning the ball in midfield, George Gouldingay making a powerful run up the pitch to find Ndure who struck the ball past Joshua Williams in goal.
And Town’s second came four minutes into first half added time, goal scorer Ndure winning the ball back on the wing and crossing for Lewis to tap in for a 2-1 lead at the break.
New Inn hit back however 18 minutes into the second period, as Rhys Hallett’s shot was ruled just in after being initially saved by Ethan Ross in goal.
The game remained close and looked to be heading for a draw until in the last seconds of normal time Macdonald secured the ball on the edge of the box and executed an excellent volley to fire home the winner.
Victory saw the Kingfishers jump to seventh in the Gwent Premier League, leap-frogging New Inn.
The seconds were also victorious in their game on Saturday too, defeating Chepstow’s Thornwell R&W 2nds 3-0 away in the East Gwent Brian Reed Cup.
Sam Williams made the breakthrough just before half-time to put them 1-0 up, before second half goals from Rory Sheppard and 16-year-old Jake Lewis.
The youth side also won 3-2 away to Ponthir AFC youth, Freddie Kemsley opening the scoring on 23 minutes and Lewis in his second game in 24 hours adding a second 12 minutes later.
Ponthir fought back to level with goals in the 56th and 74th minutes, but with a minute of normal time left, Kemsley produced a moment of magic to fire the winner.
Monmouth 1st XI will be in action for one final time this year against Caerleon FC this Saturday (December 21) at home, while the 2nds are in action against Sudbrook CC away.