THE Kingfishers entertained local rivals Croesyceiliog in an Ardal League fixture looking to stretch their unbeaten run to three games after a draw at Risca and win over Ebbw Vale, reports ROB LAURIE.

And the Truly Independent IFA and Sweeney Teds-sponsored hosts proved much too strong for the visitors, as they continued their rise up the table to go ninth.

Head coach Steve Davies had a near full squad at his disposal, with only Joe Beckett missing out through illness and James Greaney sidelined with an ankle problem.

A keen advocate of squad rotation, he has competition in numbers, with Sam Beckett, Luke Beckett and Josh Maksimovic all brought back into the starting XI.

The opening 15 minutes saw neither side take a foothold in the match, with both sides pulling a save each from Monmouth keeper Dan Keane and his counterpart Jack Harris respectively.

Croesyceiliog began to take the attack to Monmouth, but the flow of the game suddenly turned on its head on the 15-minute mark when a smart free-kick from Mitchell Palmer found the feet of in-form Shemar Parkes, who beat his man and rifled a strike past Harris to make it 1-0 to the Kingfishers.

Town upped their game with Iwan Mooney and Lewis Davies combining with Maksimovic down either flank, and on 35 minutes they were rewarded when Davies found Beckett in space who finished smartly to make it 2-0.

But with the half drawing to a close, Monmouth were disappointed to concede from a corner to make it 2-1 at the break.

Undeterred by the threat of a Croesy comeback, the Kingfishers started the second half on the front foot and regained a two-goal advantage after some hard work from the ever willing Beckett and Maksimovic resulted in Luke Firkin grabbing his fourth goal in three games.

Soon after, more tireless pressing from the trio of Parkes, Davies and Maksimovic presented Firkin with another goal to make it 4-1 and put the game out of sight for Croesyceiliog.

And on 70 minutes it was Firkin’s time to turn provider as he assisted Maksimovic to add the fifth.

With Monmouth 5-1 up the game became a little subdued although the hosts continued to impress.

The visitors found a way to score a late consolation, but that won’t have worried Davies and coach Mark Morris though.

And Davies said: “Saturday’s fixture was another opportunity for us to climb the league table.

“It was really important that we maintained the momentum and belief from the previous two games and we did that.

“The whole squad played their part in securing a 5-2 win, and in the last three games we have taken seven points from nine, remaining unbeaten and showing that we now are resilient and confident.

“It was great to see Luke Firkin continuing his scoring form, and Sam Beckett also chipping in, but the best was our first goal from Shemar Parkes and his first senior goal for the club.

“We have so much young talent emerging within this club and it’s my responsibility to nurture this going forward.

“Now we build again this week in training for another tough fixture against Undy away this coming Saturday (October 8).”

Proving his point about the young talent at the club, the U18s romped to a 7-1 FAW Youth Cup victory away to Llantwit Major the following day, Parkes again on the score sheet, while Kian Mills hit a hat-trick, with Ebrima Ndur, Oscar Elias and Joe Barratt also on target.

The 2nd XI fought hard at Pen-Y-Pound in FAW Cymru Reserve League action on Saturday, but were just squeezed out 1-0 by hosts Abergavenny Town.

This Saturday they are on their travels again, this time to face Abertillery Bluebirds.