Title favourites Aberbargoed were simply too good for Monmouth in the goo of The Buds' Recreation Ground, one of the few grounds to survive the early spring deluge that piled more misery on the fixture makers of the Welsh League.
In a surprisingly good game given the conditions, both sides looked to pass the ball and create openings that, although not rare, were seldom enough to ensure that both teams' strikers had to be on top form to make their mark.
Town had let Gwent's top marksman, Fowler, through early-on but he failed to capitalise, and Town's rookie Craig Lewis, the hero of Risca, should have done better when through one-on-one, shooting straight at the goalkeeper.