Welsh League Division One - Monmouth Town 1 Goytre United 1

AFTER the disappointment and embarrassment of losing 6-1 the week before, Monmouth Town were looking to get back to winning ways as they welcomed Swansea-based Goytre United, but were forced to settle for a late point.

Prior to the game the Kingfishers sat 12th in the league, while manager Andrew Smith was forced to make three changes to his side that convincingly lost to Penybont with both Ford brothers unavailable and full back Rhodri Lewis unavailable. Smith replaced them with Dan Spencer, Kazeem Kareem and experienced full back Aaron Davies.

The Kingfishers started the game brighter out of the two sides keeping the ball well and looking very organised at the back. They nearly got their reward when Dafydd Jones played a through ball which Jake Robinson ran onto and went one on one with Goytre’s keeper, but United’s keeper made himself big and saved with his chest.

The home side continued to look the sharper in the early stages and had another chance to take the lead when Jones whipped a free kick into the box from the corner. The ball eventually came out to Nick Harrhy on the edge of the box, who took a touch and shot but the keeper was on his toes again and made a spectacular diving save to his right.

Monmouth continued to trouble Goytre and had another chance to take the lead after 15 minutes when the Kingfishers played the ball out from the back resulting in Sam Palmer picking the ball up and running at United’s full back. Palmer eventually cut in on his right foot and shot, forcing Goytre’s keeper to make another fine diving save to his left.

The visitors managed to weather the storm and came into the game soon after, having numerous half chances with the best one coming in the 25th minute when their centre back played a long ball over Monmouth’s defence, which their striker ran on to and chested it down, but his first time shot went just over the woodwork.

Both sides continued to attack each other with real intensity and the Kingfishers nearly broke the deadlock after 40 minutes when Mitchell Palmer floated a free kick into the box from the half way line. Harrhy touched down and passed to Kazzeem Karem on the edge of the box, who shot first time, but the keeper made an easy diving save to his right. Goytre perhaps should have gone into half time one-up when their midfielder played a one-two with his winger on the edge of the box and shot. His shot went just wide of the post.

Both teams started the second half like they finished the first, attacking at each other with real intensity and desire. The first chance of the second half went to the home side when the lively Jones beat his man and cut in on his left foot, with his shot going just wide of the post. A few minutes later it was Goytre who should have broken the deadlock when their midfielder won the ball off Mitchell Palmer and played a through ball to his winger, who went one on one with Lee Williams, but his shot hit the post.

United again should have taken the lead when their winger floated a ball into the box which found their striker, but he headed the ball just over. They had another good chance in the 70th minute when Alex O’Leary gave a cheap free kick away on the edge of the box, with the resulting free kick narrowly missing the target.

Both teams continued to attack each other with real intensity and it was Goytre who eventually got their reward and broke the deadlock in the 80th minute. Their striker flicked the ball on from a throw in, which fell to their striker, who calmly placed it into the bottom corner.

Despite the late setback the Kingfishers responded extremely well and didn’t drop their heads. They continued to attack Goytre and found the equaliser in the 90th minute when Mitchell Palmer floated a ball into the box and found Rob Laurie who headed it down for Robinson, who hit it first time and found the back of the net.

Manager Andrew Smith said after the game that he thought the result was “a well-earned point”. He said: “I thought we were sloppy at times in the game and I feel we can be a lot better than what we were today. I thought we responded well to going one down with five minutes to go”.

The Kingfishers are home again next week to Haverfordwest County. Kick-off is 2.30pm.