Monmouth Town FC - You Wareham Well

Saturday 12th December 2009

Monmouth Town 5 Goytre 2

A late goal from 16 year old substitute Tom Wareham sealed an emphatic win for the Kingfishers in a pulsating game at the Sportsground which also meant they completed a season double over their Monmouthshire rivals and went above them in the table. The game was also notable for Town missing two penalties; the first after 3 minutes when Tranter was upended in the box and the usually reliable Smith hit his spot kick too near the keeper and the second as Tranter stepped up late on to complete his hat trick only to see his effort superbly saved.

In between times the two sides  had gone at each other knowing that promotion spots are on offer and County bragging rights were up for grabs. For long periods Goytre were the better side with better movement and more ability to keep possession and find their team mates with shorter, crisper passes. As so often the game is capable of turning such unimportant positives on their head and it was the returning Alderdice's head which did the damage converting a simple chance from a free kick after Ford had resumed his torment of the Goytre left back which had ended in a red card for the hapless defender back in August. It took a further four fouls from the putative stopper harassing Ford  like a dog chasing a postman with bacon trousers before he earned his yellow card.

By that time Goytre were undeservedly level but coming back into the game and looking to go in at half time on the ascendency when Tranter struck just before half time finishing a great move and pass by Bowen before Roberts tipped superbly over from a free kick.

The second half again saw too many Monmouth passes go astray and Goytre failing to make the most of their know how and possession but Ford showed what direct running could do ripping through the Goytre defence to draw a save from the keeper but bundling in the rebound.  Tranter was more rumbustuous with his second blasting past the keeper from a tight angle to end the game as a contest. Ford was then brought down in the box and up stepped Tranter to fail from the spot before Tom Wareham announced his entry onto the Monmouth scene refusing to let a ball go out in the corner, gathering and driving a  shot which went in at the near post.

The Goytre substitute showed Monmouthians how to take penalties by slotting the third spot kick of the game to give the final scoreline a veneer of respectability for Goytre and accuracy for the rest of us.

Town co-boss Robin Pick was left to comment "We weren't at our best today but at other times we've dominated and got nothing. I know which I'd prefer. We're a bit short on confidence in some areas and our decision making is a bit off but we've got talent throughout the team and we're defending better although it would have been nice to shut up shop at 5 - 1. So long as we keep working for each other we'll be there or thereabouts at the end."

Next Saturday Town entertain Seven Sisters at the Sportsground Kick off 2pm.

The Kingfishers' reserves side kept up their challenge for reserve division honours with a comfortable 3 - 1 win at Risca United.