Gwent Premier League Premier Division

Monmouth Town FC 5 Newport Saints 1

THE Kingfishers extended their lead at the top of the table with a thumping 5–1 victory over Newport Saints at the Sports Ground on Saturday, firing four goals in a second-half blitz.

It was a steady start with neither side creating many clear-cut chances, before Robbie Atkinson found himself through on goal only for Saints keeper Nathan Florence to deny him.

Five minutes later, Saints’ Marshall Jays played a ball across the hosts’ backline to Callum Lovett, whose effort was gratefully gathered by Luca Hughes-Evans.

But the Kingfishers’ high press paid off on 18 minutes, as Jake Bevan won possession and his through ball found poacher Taylor Street, who finished calmly past Florence for 1-0.

It was almost two when a poorly-cleared Saints corner fell to Dan Macdonald, whose strike from distance beat Florence but rattled the post and went out of play.

Monmouth led by the single goal at the break, but seven minutes after the restart, Macdonald’s free-kick into the box was turned home by defender Callum Uttley for 2–0.

Both sides then made changes, before Monmouth blasted three goals in six minutes, starting with 16-year-old Lucas Harris, who picked up his second goal of the season.

Lamin Ndure fed Thorp on the right-hand side, and his cross found Harris in the box, who struck the ball confidently into the net for 3-0.

Then, Thorp delivered again, finding space on the right and playing a short pass to Macdonald on the edge of the box, whose thunderous strike beat Florence all ends up.

And the Kingfishers' fifth came from a late penalty, Street fouled in the box before Macdonald stepped up to secure his brace.

The Saints grabbed a late consolation just a minute later, catching Town’s defence off-guard from a quickly taken free-kick, scored by Dan Storer.

Town manager Mark Morris said: “Saints were probably the better team in the first 15 minutes or so, but we eased ourselves into the game..

“We got more of a stronghold, particularly in midfield. I thought Jake Bevan was really good for us today; he really sort of controlled that midfield and broke up play really well, giving us a platform to build from.”

Defender Thorp added: “We knew they hadn't had a game in quite a few months, so we knew they were going to be really up for it, and we knew we had to match that.

“[We] then hoped our quality would come through. I think we did that in the first half, did the basics, and in the second half, our quality shone through.”

The 2nds also drew 2-2 at Sudbrook CCFC, with the goals from Sam Williams and Jake Perrella.

Next up for the 1sts this Saturday is Cefn Fforest away, while the 2nds host Chepstow Town 2nds.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Chepstow Gwent Premier 2 basement boys Thornwell R&W scored a morale-boosting 4-2 win at Usk Town, Toby Prettyjohn firing a brace backed by a goal from Logan Jones and an Owen Badham penalty, with Aled Burkitt and Ollie Kershaw the hosts’ scorers.

Redbrook Rovers 2nds also fought out a nine-goal thriller with visitors English Bicknor 2nds, but lost out 5-4, Liam Radnor scoring a brace backed by goals from Scott Windley and Dan Bodenham.