AFTER four wins on the bounce, Monmouth Town were looking to continue their fine run of form against relegation rivals Afan Lido. The Kingfishers sat 12th in Welsh League Division One with their opposition in eighth place having played four more games. Manager Andrew Smith made two changes to his side that edged past Risca United, bringing in reserve choice goalkeeper Lee Williams for the injured Keiron Blackburn who had sprained his ankle. Smith also brought in youngster Mitchell Palmer for Alex O’Leary.

Both teams started poorly, struggling to get a foothold in the game with the pitch having a huge effect upon proceedings. The Kingfishers had the first chance of the game when Nick Harrhy found himself in plenty of space on the edge of the box. Harrhy got his head up and shot but his shot went just wide of the woodwork.

It was the away side that got the first goal of the match when their winger floated an inviting ball into the box, Lee Williams came out and punched the ball away, but his clearance only found an Afan Lido player on the edge of the box who hit his shot first time and found the bottom corner of the net. Lido should have doubled their lead in the 30th minute when their winger cut in on his left foot and shot but Lee Williams was well alert and managed to tip the ball around the post.

Against the run of play the Town could have found the equaliser when Ashley Ford floated a ball into the box, finding Rob Laurie, whose header went agonisingly wide. Apart from that the Kingfishers struggled to create any chances, seemingly lacking any creativity and style. Towards the end of the first half the Town found themselves two down. In the 40th minute, Lido’s centre-back played a long ball to find his teammate who flicked the ball on to their striker. With the striker one-on-one with Lee Williams, with the striker blasting his shot into the top corner of the net.

Monmouth showed signs of improvement at the start of the second half, showing a bit more passion and desire, but again it was Afan Lido who had the first chance of the half. Their striker headed it on for his teammate, who volleyed it first time but his shot fizzed just wide of the post.

The Kingfishers continued to improve and should have got a goal back in the 60th minute when Nick Harrhy turned his man and cut in on his left foot, but his shot went just over the bar. The Kingfishers continued to attack Lido in the latter stages of the game but struggled to create any chances in the final third.

Against the run of play Lido extended their lead when their winger won the ball off Aaron Davies and went one-on-one with Lee Williams, with the Lido player slotting the ball through Williams’s legs.

The Kingfishers found a consolation goal moments later when danger man Nick Harrhy drilled his free kick into the top corner, leaving the keeper no chance.

The Town continued to attack in the final minutes but were caught on the break and found themselves four one down in the 88th minute when Lido’s winger beat his man and ran down the by-line, eventually squaring it to his teammate who tapped it in.

Manager Andrew Smith described the loss as “poor”. He said: “We had won four on the bounce and we thought we were better than what we were. We didn’t adapt to the poor pitch and we didn’t have enough quality and creativity. I felt we made too many errors and got punished because of it. Overall it was a bad day at the office”.

The Kingfishers are next in action tonight (20th April) against Aberdare Town before playing Caerau Ely on 23rd April.