Monmouth Town 1 Goytre 2

Goytre took the spoils in the season's first Monmouthshire derby, edging past a spirited Kingfishers performance that once again failed by the odd goal.

Town arguably had the better of the first half and were kept at bay by some superb goalkeeping by Williams in the visitors goal and a tight back line that did well against Kingfisher's debutant Phil Tranter playing his first game for three months and looking strong and direct on the counter.

Indeed, Tranter should have done a little better with one good chance and a number of half chances weren't converted while Goytre looked to have more joy rampaging down the Kingfishers' left, pegging back Sam Palmer but most efforts were kept to a distance in a goalless first half.

Goytre came out stronger in the second half and again looked to exploit the space down Town's flanks as the increasingly desperate home defence tried to stem the constant flow of attacks. Town however were also capable of producing their own attacks and again should have converted at least one of a number of shooting opportunities.

A change on the hour was designed to shore up the back line and rejuvenate the attack at the same time, and in some senses it worked with Town suddenly producing some better attacking play with substitute Bowen immediately forging a good understanding with Tranter and the back four looking more solid.

Paradoxically, the withdrawal of Luke Harris created a vulnerability at set pieces that was exploited on 72 minutes as a near post throw was helped on and across the area and a scuffed shot found the corner to give Goytre the lead.

Perhaps sensing that Monmouth were far from beaten, the Goytre side began running down the clock at every opportunity and with only seven minutes remaining another near post throw to the Goytre substitute proved the undoing of a lot of hard work as he bamboozled Spence and finished at Williams' near post.

There was still time for Bowen to set up Alderdice for a wild attempt that was converted at the back post by Tranter and a number of other efforts that on another day may have earned a point for the Town.

As it was, the Kingfishers were left to reflect on another defeat and the prospect of tabletoppers Llantwit Fardre's visit next week.

Stand in Manager Barry Burns was disappointed with the result but remained upbeat about the performance.

" We have to take the positives out of the game, mainly that we haven't rolled over and they were clearly worried about us for long periods of the game. We certainly aren't pushovers any more and I thought Tranter did well on his first run out and Bowen did well when he came on.

"I made a tactical change to try and stop them getting behind us and maybe give them something to think about up front. From that point of view it worked as we played some good stuff after the change but we've been done by some poor defending at two throw ins and have to try and cut out silly mistakes like that" the acting manager added.