MONMOUTH Town bowed out of the Nathaniel Cars Sales Welsh League Cup in the second round with an extra time defeat at the hands of table toppers Cardiff Met University last Saturday.

The students from the capital have built up a reputation of being one of the best passing teams in the Welsh league and currently sit top of the Welsh League first division after losing out on promotion to the Welsh Premier League on goal difference last season.

Monmouth travelled missing numerous key players including top scorer Nick Harrhy, fellow striker Richard Greaves, defenders Ben Evans and Jacob Guy and also had the returning Dan Macdonald unavailable due to international clear eye not being completed in time.

However, manager Andrew Smith can certainly pleased with his sides levels of effort and chances created, especially as the task was made even harder after Elliot Fords’ dismissal in only the thirty second minute.

The opening ten minutes proved a cagey affair as the visitors stuck to a game plan of packing the midfield and allowing the students plenty of possession, looking to hit them on the break when possible. The new centre back pairing of Aaron Davies and Ashley Ford looked accomplished and skipper Jack Alderdice certainly looked the part in an unfamiliar centre forward role. The promising pacy Jac Hardman was handed a debut on the left flank and Joe Loftus was back to his combative best in the centre of the park.  

The students looked neat and tidy in possession without really penetrating the Kingfishers back line, but after 11 minutes the Mets right winger outpaced Town left back Alex O’Leary, resulting in the full back having to be replaced with a hamstring injury. The reshuffle resulted in reserve team goal machine Craig Lewis taking the lone striker role as Alderdice returned to the heart of the defence. Town then pressed the self destruct button when Blackburn played a short free kick to Alderdice. Alderdice attempted to play a square ball across to Ashley Ford, only to find his pass blocked and intercepted resulting in a square ball across the goal for the Mets centre forward to finish in a virtually open net.

Things got even worse five minutes later when, having already been booked, Elliot Ford attempted a tackle but got there second, resulting in him clattering the home midfielder. Ford was sent off for a second yellow card and early bath, making the rest of the game a real uphill battle for the Town. The visitors hung on without really troubling the Met defence and looked forward to the half time break where they could regroup and adapt the game plan.

Smith went brave at the break, resulting in a back three, a midfield five with Sam Palmer and Hardman as wing backs, and Lewis remaining the lone striker.

Lewis grew into the game and tested the home keeper with a drive from 25 yards. Minutes later, an almost instant replay of his first attempt dipped just over the home cross bar. On 59 minutes, the Town were level. Having been asked to play forward more when in possession, Kareem and Palmer linked up well and the tenacious Loftus drove into the box to virtually tackle himself, the opposing centre half and the all into the goal.  

The goal seemed to rock the students and for the next ten minutes, they made numerous errors whilst trying to play out from the back. Lewis could have found himself one on one but his first touch just evaded him and took him too wide.  

The students were still neat and tidy in possession and Blackburn made a fantastic point blank save to keep the score level and sent the tie into extra time.

Just four minutes into the fist period of extra time, the Town had a great chance to get themselves in front but Mitchell Palmers half volley crashed off the underside of the cross bar. Then, three minutes later, the students themselves broke down the a town left and a superb cross was drilled across the town goal where the home at taker made no mistake. To their credit, Town kept going and with just three minutes to go, after a scramble in the box, an Ashley Ford strike seemed to be heading for the net, only for an unfortunate Jac Hardman to find himself in the way and block it on the goal line. The full time whistle went and the young students certainly knew that they had been pushed all the way.

Manager Smith was proud but still disappointed with the outcome. "Yes, we’ve battled and yes, we’ve played most of the game with ten men, but, realistically we’ve still had chances to win the game and not done that.  

“I can’t fault the boys for their effort and their endeavour. We’ve come across a top top side.

“They are probably the worst side you can play against with 10 men because they move the ball so well. But, for me it’s yet another one that got away. In recent weeks we’ve produced performances that have been ok, got ourselves in good positions, but not winning games.

“I’m sure if we can get some our players back, and keep producing performances that we have done for the past few weeks, our luck will turn."

Town are due to play Aberdare Town on Tuesday night away with no scheduled fixture next weekend.