Monmouth Town vs Cambrian & Clydach Vale

Website: http://MonmouthtownFC.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/MonmouthTownFC Two more goals for Dan MacDonald and one for a hard working Nick Harrhy ensured Monmouth Town leapfrogged their visitors into third spot in Welsh League Division One. Billed as the welsh football match of the day the game lived up to its hype with both sides intent on attacking at all times from all angles. The early exchanges saw Town go close on a number of occasions with Jenkins getting some joy down Town's left as Josh Brown was showing some deft touches in his first start for the Kingfishers in at left back for absent Ben Evans. His overall display will give manager Jenkins some selection headaches in a few weeks time. Town also had a very good penalty shout turned down as they threatened to take an early lead. Cambrian though are tough opponents and weathered the early pressure and began building some of their own, looking particularly threatening from set pieces. It was perhaps inevitable that the first goal would come from a set piece as Monmouth failed to deal with a corner kick and reacted slowly as the ball dropped at the far post allowing a C&C head to get in first and put the visitors 1 -- 0 up as half time approached. Monmouth had to defend well to stop going further behind in the closing stages of the half with man of the match Jack Alderdice back to his commanding best. Monmouth needed a response in the second half and it was delivered in spades by Dan MacDonald's superb free kick bending in a superlative strike around the wall and in at the 'keeper's near post. But still Cambrian kept coming not content to settle for a draw as the game became more breathless. Town, sponsored by WyeMedia seemed more than capable of dealing with open play but conceded free kicks in dangerous areas which caused some problems and kept the pressure on. As so often if Cambrian's approach work was bludgeoning then Town's counters are more rapier like and Jenkins pace was a danger Harrhy was bringing people into the game and Dean Lee showed his appetite to run with the ball. MacDonald's invention threatened to unlock the visitor's defence on more than one occasion and Evans went close a number of times drifting in from the right hand side. MacDonald had another free kick tipped over before winning a penalty as his clipped pass was stopped in its tracks by a Cambrian arm. He made no mistake from the spot. Cambrian looked to be beaten but regrouped and came back strongly looking for the equaliser but left themselves exposed at the back. Dean Lee's exquisite touch and pass released Nick Harry to race clear and slot home with a great finish. Even then Cambrian refused to be beaten and forced a wonderful block from Alderdice and a superb stop from Blackburn in the closing moments. A mixture of joy and relief greeted the final whistle as the players received an ovation from a very appreciative crowd. Manager Jenkins was playing down any talk of titles "We've still got 10 game to go and they don't hand out medals for third place with a third of the season left. All we can do is keep working hard and keep winning." Town take on current Champions West End this Saturday again at the Sportsgorund at 2.30. On Sunday the Town's youth team won for the third game in a row beating Caerleon 4 -- 0 with goals from Boxhall James, Berry, Coulson, and Cleaves.