Kingfishers Flop On Home Return

Saturday 5th September 2009

Monmouth Town 3 Troedyrhiw 4

Monmouth Town's wandering Kingfishers finally retuned home on Saturday after five and half months looking to continue a solid start to their season and finally hand out a defeat to their third division opponents who had beaten them twice last term.

I what any neutral observer would have enjoyed as a seven goal thriller any home supporter would have viewed as another three points tantalisingly served up with some great approach play but ultimately turned away in favour of the now familiar diet of poor finishing and even worse defending.

Despite playing poorly for the first half Town again created the best, if not the only openings but were kept at arms length by some solid defending and picked off with an early breakaway goal and a thumping header from a needlessly conceded corner in the final minute of the half as again possession and terrioty counted for nothing.

A change at half time saw Smith enter the fray and Alderdice pushed forward and suddenly it was all the visitors could do to stem wave after wave of attacks as the Kingfishers sought to restore parity. Indeed it seemed only a matter of time before the inevitable came and despite missing another raft of clear cut chances Dean Palmer finally pulled one back after a flowing move down the Town left started by Lewis and aided and abetted by Tranter and Bowen.

Moments later Ford's superb run and cross from the right was headed home by Bowen and Town looked forward to pushing on and winning in some style.

Perhaps soothed by the fight back the Kingfishers midfield passed up the opportunity of tackling the visiting central midfielder as he slalomed past four players before clipping an easy shot over and passed an out of position Campbell.

Town dusted themselves down and Alderdice made it 3 - 3 with just five minutes remaining. Cue another horror show at a corner and the spoils went back to Merthyr.

Town joint boss Barry Burns was disappointed with the result "Once again we've played reasonably well in open play and dominated at times but come away empty handed. We don't need wholesale radical shake ups but there will have to be some improvements if we are to stop making silly mistakes and throwing goals and points away."

Town's reserves make their debut in the Welsh League This Saturday at home to Newport YMCA (kick off 2.30)