Monmouth Town FC - Ten Man Town Struggle In the Mud

Monmouth Town 1 South Gower 1

Monmouth Town's Kingfishers returned to home action for the first time since early December but failed to grab a victory against bottom but one Welsh League newcomers South Gower.

Forced to change formation to cater for the absence of influential sweeper Andrew Smith and speedster Elliot Ford Town's attempt to secure a vital win was further hampered by the dismissal on 38 minutes of Dean Palmer for using foul and abusive language - a red card that meant the withdrawal of top scorer Phil Tranter as Manager Burns and Pick looked to shore up what had already looked a shaky defence. At a stroke however the Town's attacking strength was undermined and on a pitch that would make a watering hole in the Serengeti look like a bowls green any attempt at passing the ball quickly and with certainty was rendered impossible. Goals were always going to be at a premium.

True, Tranter and Bowen had gone close in the first half denied by good saves by Honey-Jones and a mazy run by Sam Palmer had ended with a powder puff finish and the Gower men had let the Kingfishers off the hook with wayward finishing but both teams looked woefully out of sorts as the game lacked any real shape or discipline.

With only three minutes of the second half gone Alderdice was adjudged to have been pushed in the area and Sam Palmer's spot kick was emphatic. The game ebbed and flowed as the ball bobbled and jigged its merry dance and it was always likely that Town would need two goals to get all three points. And so it proved as the defence was undone by a neat through ball and Roberts was beaten by a toe poke.

A coupe of other chances were passed up by both sides as the tireless Bowen ploughed a lone furrow and tried his best to grab a foothold that could lift Town back into the game but it was all to no avail as both sides settled for a scrappy point apiece.

Town co boss Robin Pick summed it up "Ten men. 50 minutes. Hard work." Not that easy on the eye either Robin.