Monmouth Town 2 Cwmaman Institute 3 Monmouth Town's losing streak continued last Saturday but they took league leaders and fellow Welsh League newcomers to the wire in a pulsating game at the Sportsground. Cwmaman came to Monmouth on the back of nine consecutive victories and a 7 - 1 mauling of Porthcawl Town so must have been very confident of another comfortable victory. What they got was a much improved display from a more determined Monmouth team whose play belied their poor league position. The Kingfishers did fall behind to an early goal when an innocuous pass was dealt with hesitantly and the visiting striker bundled the ball home. Town fought back hard and created a number of chances that were not converted but included two top drawer saves from Truelove in the visiting goal. On the stroke of half time Cleaves put his team into trouble by losing possession and a whipped strike from the edge of the box gave Cwmaman an undeserved two goal half time advantage. Town came out strongly in the second half and again took the game to the leaders but frustratingly could not make their possession and territory tell with a goal. With twenty minutes remaining a Monmouth attack was broken up and the counter attack punished an overcommitted defence as the Cwmaman striker finished unmarked at the back post. The game seemed well and truly over but a double substitution gave the Kingfishers more urgency and substitute Prosser headed home a good free kick from Rogers. Shortly afterwards Smith was sent off for a second yellow card offence and that could have killed any Monmouth ambition. As it was it galvanised the home side as Wookey pulled another one back with ten minutes remaining. Bowen could have drawn the sides level in the dying minutes but his strike was firm but high and Town were left to rue what might have been. Manager Smith was upbeat at the final whistle but mindful that more defeats will almost certainly end his team's brief flirtation with Welsh League football. "It was a good performance but again we have been undone by our own mistakes and a failure to finish off good moves and good attacks. I know what the problems are but the solutions are harder to find. "We desperately need some firepower and more quality with our passing. Sometimes we might have to just get the ball in behind teams rather than looking to feet. "All of the other teams in this division have lots of commitment and passion and we can match them for that at times but we need more know how. " Town are away at fellow strugglers Morriston this Saturday in what is already shaping up to be a six pointer.
