Gwent Premier League Premier Division

Monmouth Town Fc 10 Lucas Cwmbran 0

THE Kingfishers hit 10 past struggling Lucas Cwmbran at a sodden Monmouth Sports Ground to strengthen their grip on top spot in the Gwent Premier League.

A game between the top and bottom of the table always looked like a Kingfishers result, and they gave the Brakemen no chance on Saturday.

The rainy weather didn’t dampen the hosts’ spirits, who created several early chances before grabbing the opener after 12 minutes, poacher Taylor Street meeting Robbie Atkinson’s delivery at the back post for 1-0.

Both sides were struggling with the difficult conditions, but Monmouth grabbed their second just after the half-hour mark, when fullback Luke Cleaves threatened out wide before sending the ball flying into the box to Lamin Ndure, who matched Street firing home.

Street then grabbed his brace just before half-time, Ndure’s cross finding Atkinson, who took the ball wide before squaring for the No 9 to make it 3-0.

The Kingfishers then had to wait until the 67th minute to add their fourth, Jake Perrella making the most of a short corner and playing in Ndure to grab his second goal, making up for a miss moments before.

The Cwmbran-based side’s best chance then came from a free-kick on the edge of the Kingfishers’ box, Taylor Price stepping up to take it but blasting wide, much to the delight of Kingfishers keeper and debutant Luca Hughes-Evans.

And any hopes the visitors had of launching a comeback were then totally washed away, as the hosts fired six more in the last 20 minutes.

Dan Macdonald’s low driven shot from outside the box beat Adam Smith all ends up in goal, assisted by Ndure for the fifth on 71 minutes.

And five minutes later he returned the favour, Street playing it short to the No 10 from a corner, who then found Ndure to strike it low to grab his hat-trick for 6-0.

The Welsh winger didn’t stop there, as just three minutes later his shot from the right side of the box flew in over Smith for his fourth and Monmouth’s seventh.

And in the 82nd minute it was a great eight, following a superb ball from Lucas Harris to Ndure on the wing, who missed Street with the cross but found Perrella at the back post to net his first goal since September.

To add insult to injury, Lucas Cwmbran’s Owain Allen then gave away a penalty fouling Street in the box, and the No 9 stepped up to secure his first hat-trick for the club and 9-0.

And there was no let up, as the Kingfishers made it a round 10 in added time, Jack Meredith making a darting run in the middle of the park to put through Macdonald, whose shot caught Smith off-guard at his near post.

The final whistle went soon after to mark a huge victory for the Kingfishers, who now sit five points clear at the top of the table.

First team manager Sam Palmer said: “Obviously it was a comfortable victory. I probably said it last week, but we wanted the game to be on to get the three points and then put a bit of daylight between us and the chasing pack.”

Untroubled for most of the afternoon, new signing Hughes-Evans, added: “I didn't really have to do much today, but I think the team did well and we kept a clean sheet, so that's the main thing.”

The Kingfishers are back in action away to Pill on Saturday (January 31), while the 2nds take on Caldicot Castle at home.