Penybont 4 Monmouth Town 4

A STOPPAGE time equaliser from Monmouth Town striker Richard Greaves was enough to earn a point for the Kingfishers in a game that could have gone either way. 

Monmouth travelled down the M4 looking to end their abysmal run on the artificial 3G surfaces that has only produced one win in thirteen outings. Penybont, who have applied for promotion for the Welsh Premier League were looking to kick on after beating in form Taffs Well last weekend.

The Kingfishers, still licking their wounds from last weeks disappointing defeat to Cardiff Met, made numerous changes in order to find some momentum. Manager Smith reverted to the favoured 4-2-3-1 formation and went with a youthful looking setup that included three members of the promising under 19 squad. Alex O’Leary returned at left back and there was also a return for Jacob Guy alongside captain Jack Alderdice at the heart of the defence.  

The Town started brightly and young Callum Porter look accomplished and brave in possession in the centre of the park. Good link up play between Harrhy, Macdonald and Greaves should have resulted in the first goal but Greaves fired his shot well wide when well placed.  As the Town pushed on, Greaves again looked dangerous and his parried shot failed to fall to an oncoming forward in yellow.  

It was, however, the home side that struck first somewhat against the run of play. A rare mistake from Porter allowed Penybont to break down the Towns left and a well placed cross across the six yard box was tucked away from the home centre forward.

To their credit, the Kingfishers bounced back and good chances forced a number of corners. From one resulting corner, Harhhy and Macdonald combined with a short routine to find O’Leary on the edge of the box to fire a sublime strike into the top corner for his first goal in for the Kingfishers.

As the rain fell heavier, the wind also picked up and made the game rather scrappy. Having looked accomplished in possession at first, the Town too often resorted to trying to use the wind in their favour but through balls were often over hit and ran out of play. One goal kick had, in fact, reached the half way line only for the elements to get hold of the ball and return in back to the edge of the stoppers box.

On thirty six minutes, one through ball did find its target. As the ball fell to Macdonald ten yards in his own half on the half turn, he played a delightful through ball to Harrhy who got to the ball before the onrushing keeper to poke home for his ninth goal of the season. The Town continued to push and, as Penybont found it hard to get out of their half due to the wind, the Town could and possibly should have increased their lead.  

Disaster struck two minutes before the break when a Blackburn goal kick was intercepted by the home winger who raced towards goal, fired across goal to find his shot deflected in by the unfortunate Mitchell Palmer to bring the scores level.

With the elements in their favour for the second half, Penybont decided to run the clock down for the remainder of the first period and the Town knew that they would have a hard job after the interval with the score at 2-2.

The first fifteen minutes of the second half were, in truth, ruined by the elements as it consisted of goal kick after goal kick with little opportunity of any real football being played. The only real chance of note fell to the home centre half who should have scored with a free header. As the game enter the final quarter, the Town started to get on the ball and play through the the thirds and got their reward when Greaves fired home with a superb half volley from the edge of the box.  

The joy from the visiting bench was short lived however as, straight from kick off, the home forwards linked together to get into the box and fire past Blackburn just eleven seconds after going behind.

The Town’s season was summed up with three minutes remaining. A corner from the right was swung over and missed everyone to nestle in the far corner. To their credit, the Town showed some resilience and character that has been missing too often this season and went all out for the equaliser.

The Kingfishers were rewarded when they forced a final corner deep into injury time and, as Laurie replaced Palmer in a desperate attempt to salvage a point, Macdonalds whipped in corner was met by Greaves to head home at the death.

Town are next in action at home tomorrow when they entertain Goytre United searching for three points to pull them away from the relegation zone.