Welsh League Division One - Monmouth Town 3 Caerau Ely 1

MONMOUTH Town enjoyed an impressive win against second-placed Caerau Ely on Saturday in their last game of 2016, with loanee Dafydd Jones completing a successful spell with two goals.

The Town welcomed Cardiff-based side Caerau Ely to the Sportsground who were unbeaten in four games and occupied second in the Welsh League Division One table.

The home side meanwhile sat 15th, having picked up three points out of a possible nine since the arrival of manager Ross Kennedy.

The first chance of the game went to Monmouth as Dafydd Jones, making his last appearance for the club before his loan deal with Newport County expires, fired a free kick over the crossbar after he was fouled on the edge of the box.

The Kingfishers had another good chance moments later. Jones won the ball off Ely’s fullback and went down the by-line, eventually finding Elliot Ford whose first time shot went over the woodwork. Caerau should have taken the lead when their midfielder ran at Monmouth’s defence and was fouled on the edge of the box. Lee Williams was forced into making a diving save to his right from the free kick but could only push it into a Caerau player. The scores were only kept level as somehow Williams managed to get up and save the shot with his head.

Ely came into the game soon after and troubled Monmouth with their pace out wide. They nearly broke the deadlock moments later when their goalkeeper played a long ball up the pitch and Simon Crook headed it away. Caerau’s midfielder picked the ball up on the edge of the box and ran at Monmouth’s defence and shot, but Williams made a magnificent save and tipped the shot over the bar.  

The away side continued to dominate possession and had a penalty appeal after 30 minutes, when Caerau’s winger went down in the penalty area after colliding with Mitchell Palmer, but the referee waved play on.

The Kingfishers managed to weather the storm and started to look more confident in their ability. They had a golden chance to take the lead on the stroke of half time when Jake Robinson played a ball down the line which Jones ran onto and went down the by line. He squared it to Sam Palmer on the edge of the box whose shot went inches wide of the post.

After a strong end to the first 45 minutes Monmouth came out for the second half positively and found themselves ahead. Sam Palmer beat his man and passed it across to Kazeem Kareem whose shot was blocked. The ball fell to captain, Rob Laurie, whose shot was again blocked before the ball came back out to Laurie who passed it across to a cool Jake Robinson who fired his shot into the top corner.

Monmouth were lucky to still be ahead thanks in part to another excellent save from stopper Lee Williams. A floated ball into the box found a Caerau player at the back post, but Williams again made an incredible acrobatic save and tipped his header onto the bar and Mitchell Palmer headed it away. The visitors continued to maintain possession well and they looked very dangerous with their speed out wide and again had another good chance to equalise when their winger played a one-two with his teammate and cut in on his right foot but dragged his shot wide of the post.  

Against the run of play the Town extended their lead, as Dafydd Jones scored his second of the game. Sam Palmer played a through ball for Jones to run onto. His shot was saved by the goalkeeper’s foot but the ball hit his shin and rolled into the net.

Monmouth were causing Caerau problems out wide and continued to attack despite their two goal cushion. On 60 minutes the Town nearly got their third when Mitchell Palmer played a ball down the line which Elliot Ford ran onto. His cross hit the bar and fell to Jake Robinson on the edge of the box but his shot went

agonisingly wide of the post. 

Ely’s task of getting anything out of the game looked highly unlikely when their substitute was sent off for dissent. Minutes later Monmouth confirmed the win, finding their third with a shot from Rob Laurie, whose shot flew into the bottom corner leaving the keeper no chance.

With minutes to go the away side got a consolation goal when their player floated in a corner which found his centre back at the back post, whose header looped into the far corner.

Manager Ross Kennedy described the win as “overwhelming.” He said: “No one was expecting us to get anything out of today’s game but to come away with three points and beat second in the league was overwhelming. I’ve seen huge improvements from the boys since I took over and to get six points out of a possible twelve so far is very pleasing. We can go away and enjoy our Christmas break and go again vs Ton Pentre who are one place above us”.

The Town’s next game is against Rhondda-based side Ton Pentre on 7th January 2017 where the Kingfishers will look to pick up more valuable points and climb up the table.