Town Put To the Sword by Steelmen

Monmouth Town 2 Corus Steel 3

Table topping Corus Steel took all three points in a pulsating game at The Sportsground when, again, missed opportunities and basic errors cost the Kingfishers dear.

After Corus took the lead on five minutes with the Town defence failing to deal with an innocuous attack and guilty of ball watching as a loose ball was turned across goal for an unmarked Port Talbot attacker to roll home, the Kingfishers settled and took the game to the league leaders.

Skipper Alderdice was in rampant form cutting through the visiting defence at will and Tranter Bowen and Ford were getting a lot of joy down the flanks and through the middle with Smith and co solid at the back.

In fact it was one way traffic for almost the entire half with Corus looking to hit on the break. Dean Palmer smacked a long distance strike and Ford almost finished a superb move that took in the length and breadth of the pitch before Palmer restored parity on the half hour with a super strike which cannoned in off the bar. Five minutes later Bowen turned in a shot after good work by Alderdice and as the half came to a close Tranter's effort was well kept out and a goal mouth melee which would have racked up 1000 points in bagatelle failed to register a single score for the Kingfishers.

The second half was a much more ragged affair and although neither side were playing particularly well it was Monmouth who still looked most likely. Cue long range shot which beat Campbell all ends up and a free kick from wide on the right which was flat and straight, caught a flick and Campbell's decision to punch proved the wrong one as the ball crashed against the inside netting.

The Kingfishers huffed and puffed manfully after that, coming close on a number of occasions with Bowen hitting the post. The disappointment was palpable and the game became more fractious as a result ending as it did in a fit of handbags and a flurry of yellow cards. Once again Town had dominated possession, territory, had by far the more promising movement and passages of play looking the more accomplished outfit. The only thing however that ultimately matters is the goals column. Town remain deficient on too many occasions.

TOWN TAKE ON COUNTY IN QUARTER FINAL

After a gruelling two hour trip to Gower on Saturday Monmouth Town take on Blue Square South leaders Newport County in the quarter final of the Gwent senior cup at Spytty Park on Monday (12^th 7.45 kick off). Town Chairman, Lee Robson was looking for some travelling support to cheer The Kingfishers on to a famous victory.  "It will be a great occasion - the club's biggest cup tie for decades and depending on what County do we must have a chance. It would be great for a couple of hundred Monmouthians to be able to say ‘I was there!'"