Gwent Premier League Premier Division

Cefn Fforest 0 Monmouth Town FC 2

THE Kingfishers extended their unbeaten Gwent Premier League streak to 14 games with a 2-0 away win over Cefn Fforest last Wednesday evening (April 8).

After their third to last game of the season, the Kingfishers kept the pressure on their rivals with an important victory at Britannia Sports Fields, to remain in a promotion spot in second.

Town started the match well, with Taylor Street and Dan Macdonald both searching for the opening goal in the opening minutes.

And just before the 20-minute mark, Monmouth found the breakthrough through a well placed Jake Lewis finish.

Street received the ball on the edge of the box and, after cutting inside, struck at goal.

And although his effort rebounded off the post, it fell straight into the path of Lewis, who tapped home to make it 1-0.

Shortly after scoring, Lewis was replaced by Robbie Atkinson, but the young Kingfisher had already made an important impact during his 25 minute stint on the pitch.

Atkinson almost made an immediate contribution as the new man on the pitch, creating a chance moments after coming on.

He found space on the right hand side, but his delivery into the box was gratefully claimed by Fforest goalkeeper Asa Kirkwood.

But just before half-time, Dan Spence made it 2-0 to the visitors, when the Kingfishers won a corner, taken by Macdonald, which found Spence at the back post, where he nudged it in to give Town a more comfortable lead going into the break.

Monmouth continued to apply pressure in the second half, with Macdonald sending a lovely cross towards Street, whose header drifted just wide of the mark.

Cefn Fforest’s best opportunity came in the closing stages of the match, when a foul by Rob Laurie on the edge of the box gave the hosts a free-kick in a promising position.

Morgan Clapp stepped up to take the set piece but was unable to beat the Monmouth wall.

Despite chances for both sides in the second half, it remained 2-0, earning the visitors all three points as they continued their push for promotion, before heading into the final two matches of the season.

The Kingfishers are level on points with table toppers Newport Corinthians, although the city side have games in hand.

Marshfield in third are six points behind and have played a game more, but challenges could come from fourth and fifth-placed New Inn and Rogerstone, who are 10 and 11 points behind, but have six and four games in hand respectively on the Kingfishers.

This Saturday (April 18), the club will host its junior fundraiser fun day, featuring a Monmouth Town 2nds East Gwent One match against Caldicot Castle, led out by mascots, followed by a ‘Parents vs Coaches’ game.

There will also be food and a bar available, a bouncy castle, and live music in the evening, all with free entry.

The first team will next be in action on Saturday, April 25, when they play their final home match of the season against Abertillery Excelsiors, and would love to see plenty of support.

After that, they wrap up their league campaign with a Thursday night trip (April 30) to play Newport Saints.