THE Kingfishers hopes of an extended run in the Gwent Premier League County Motors Challenge Cup came to an end in round two on Saturday, with a 3-1 home loss to division rivals PILCS, reports STUART TOWNSEND.

Town made the semi-final in 2024/25, but hopes of going all the way this time came to nothing, despite the hosts piling on the pressure.

The Kingfishers went out of the County Motors cup at the hands of PILCS
The Kingfishers went out of the County Motors cup at the hands of PILCS (Stuart Townsend)

Chris Griffin tried his luck from 25 yards for the visitors in the eighth minute before Jacob Perrella could only direct his shot straight at PILCS custodian Williams Gandee two minutes later after a cross from the right was headed back into his path.

Monmouth’s Iwan Mooney then found himself unmarked in front of the visitors’ goal in the 24th minute but the cross from the right could not pick him out.

A Kingfishers player goes toe to toe with a PILCS player
A Kingfishers player goes toe to toe with a PILCS player (Stuart Townsend)

And Perrella was unable to apply the vital touch to an inviting cross from the left on the half-hour mark before Lucas Harris directed a 25-yard drive straight at Gandee four minutes later.

Mooney was next denied from a tight angle in the 40th minute before Perrella's inviting cross from near the left byline was headed over the crossbar by a PILCS defender for a corner on the stroke of half-time.

A PILCS player holds off a Kingfisher challenge
A PILCS player holds off a Kingfisher challenge (Stuart Townsend)

The Glassmen had ridden their luck, but then broke the deadlock nine minutes after the interval when Ashley Jayne forced the ball home from a corner.

The Kingfishers were back on level terms in the 69th minute though when substitute Dan MacDonald drove towards the byline and his low pullback was converted by Perrella at the near post.

PILCS won through 3-1 despite plenty of Monmouth chances
PILCS won through 3-1 despite plenty of Monmouth chances (Stuart Townsend)

But PILCS regained the lead nine minutes later, following a swift counter-attack down the right, with substitute Taylor Roden on hand to turn the ball home when it was played across the face of goal, after home custodian Lee Williams was unable to hold on to an initial effort.

MacDonald's 80th-minute shot from the edge of the penalty area was deflected for a corner before his stoppage-time free-kick was saved by Gandee as the Kingfishers pushed forward looking for a leveller.

Eyes on the ball in the Kingfishers v PILCS clash
Eyes on the ball in the Kingfishers v PILCS clash (Stuart Townsend)

But they were then caught out by the Glassmen when Jayne netted his second of the afternoon moments before the final whistle, completing a frustrating afternoon for the hosts.

The Kingfishers will be looking to bounce back on Saturday (October 4) when they travel to the Premier Division's basement club Lucas Cwmbran.

Ten-man Gwent Premier 2 Usk Town AFC also bowed out of the cup in dramatic style – losing by the same 3-1 score at home to GP1 outfit Cwmcarn Athletic after two stoppage time goals for the visitors.

Cwm missed a first-half penalty but went in front on 66 minutes before Usk keeper Dan Cordell was given his marching orders.

Jordan Loyal fired the hosts level though with 12 minutes left and they looked like holding on until two Cwmcarn goals on 94 and 95 minutes sent the visitors through, with a trip to Chepstow’s Thornwell R&W in the league up next for Usk this Saturday.

Elsewhere, there was also late drama for last year’s Ardal South East runners-up Chepstow Town, who secured a 1-0 league win at basement boys Tredegar Town on Saturday through a Mason Keepin-Davies goal four minutes into stoppage time.

Victory saw them climb into the top half of the table for the first time this campaign, with a trip to Canton up next on Sunday (October 5).