Kingfishers Up For The County

Gwent Senior Cup

Monday 12th October 2009

Newport County 0 Monmouth Town 2

An Andrew Smith penalty and a superb Matthew Bowen goal were enough to seal a famous win for Monmouth Town against Newport County and clinch a semi final place in the Gwent Senior Cup.

This was the first ever competitive meeting of the two sides in any competition which is historically significant given 'the Exiles' birth as the Newport and Monmouth County AFC and some shared history with former Newport players being loaned out to Monmouth Town in the 50's and 60's, helping Town to dominate Monmouthshire competitions in their heyday.

The progress of Town over the past five years from underachieving Gwent County Division Three side to a solid and competitive Welsh league club was underlined by the tie itself and the scoreline which, despite the Exiles fielding a virtual youth side, was achieved with much to spare.

Town were happy to concede possession for much of the game knowing that to do otherwise on a big pitch against mobile, technically adept opponents was asking for trouble and so the early exchanges were cagey.

Tricky' Tranter who became a father for the second time later in the evening, (though not, it must be stressed, as a result of any slapdash defending), got clear three times but had too much to do and saw his long range efforts easily dealt with. Ford showed glimpses of the pace that was to be used to more devastating effect in the second half and Alderdice and Kennedy were once more providing a semblance of a platform to launch some forays into the Exile territory.

Tranter it was however who wriggled free again on 23 minutes and was adjudged to have been pulled back in the area. Smith did the rest from the spot for his first of the season.

The rest of the half was significant only for a couple of bookings and the fact that County for all their youthful endeavour seemed less likely to equalise unless as a result of stupidity from Town....something that hasn't been entirely eradicated from their play.

The second half settled into much the same pattern although Ford had begun to show some signs that he could do some real damage if given more freedom to attack. The case for the attack was proven in the 70th minute as he picked up the ball on the half way line, burnt past four defenders and rolled a pass into the path of Bowen who scooped his finish into the roof of the net and sent the travelling support if not into rapture then at least to some place where enthusiastic clapping and whooping and hollering is positively encouraged. There was even a chant of 'Top of the league? You're having a laugh" which is about as raucous as a Monmouth football crowd gets.

County again applied plenty of pressure but had little in the way of creativity to break down the older and wiser Town defence again well marshalled by former County player Smith and with super displays by Spence, Davies and another clean sheet for Campbell.

It was left to Town Chairman Lee Robson to sum up the mood in the Monmouth camp "I'm immensely proud of everything associated with Monmouth Town Football Club tonight. It's taken a lot of hard work on and off the pitch to even get in a position where we can be in the same competition as Newport County and, yes, it is a very special occasion for us and I make no apologies for that. There's plenty more where this came from."

Baby Faced Tranter Seals the Points

Saturday 17th October 2009

Monmouth Town 5 Cwmamman United 2

Phil Tranter's second hat trick of the season perfectly illustrated the strikers' art coming as it did with the classic left foot, right foot, backside combination which ended a perfect week for the new dad and the Kingfishers who secured their first home points of the season.

Monmouth Town have now won six of their last seven games and have moved to joint third in the league and priming themselves to be serious challengers as the season progresses.

This was by far the most comfortable of recent victories against a strangely subdued fourth placed Cwmamman side enjoying plenty of possession but showing little creativity in the final third.

Town went ahead on 11th minutes as Tranter latched onto a long ball and took the advancing 'keeper by surprise by letting his shot go early and it arched into the far corner. Town then gained a real grip ,of the game and although Cwmamman were still competitive at this point didn't seem likely to find a way through with Smith, Davies and Spence once again competent and confident and looking to spring Ford and Alderdice at every opportunity.

On 32 minutes however an innocuous attack was running its course when the ball was turned toward the far post and an James poked the ball beyond Campbell for an easy equaliser. Just before half time however Sam Palmer blasted in from 18 yards to restore the deserved lead for the Kingfishers.

The second half promised more of the same as Kennedy came into his own and the tireless Bowen began to make inroads and Ford was once again a threat down the right flank. The third goal came in surprising manner as the Cwmamman play maker tried a cross field pass which was expertly cut out by Tranter and his attempted lob ended up in the bottom corner. Smith converted a penalty soon after but Cwmamman responded with a simple attack down the right as Evans was allowed to run the whole length of the pitch unchallenged, fall over and still get his shot in at Campbell's near post. Tranter however was not finished and completed his perfect week guiding a Bowen effort in with his stomach. There was still time for Cwmamman to have a headed goal disallowed and to miss a penalty but this was  thoroughly deserved win for the Town.

The reserves kept up their impressive start to the season with a point away at top of the table Caldicot Town. A solitary strike by Craig Lewis seemed enough to get all three points but Caldicot levelled in injury time to stay at the top with the Kingfishers breathing down their necks in second with two games in hand.