TWO second half goals from Nick Harrhy clinched a crucial win for Monmouth Town's Kingfishers against a Goytre United side challenging for top spot.

In a lively encounter, both sides tried to play football on a sticky pitch and the early parts of the game showed why both teams could, in theory at least, have a say on the destination of this season's league title.

Bizarrely this was Monmouth's first home league game since September so even they must have felt a little strange, but Harrhy and MacDonald were soon at the heart of things, with man of the match Rob Laurie perhaps revelling in the conditions more than his more aesthetic team mates.

It was however the visitors who took the lead when a through ball split the Kingfishers' defence and Griffiths finished well.

In recent weeks that might have led to a bit of soul searching but Town bounced back with a few chances and, when Evans couldn't quite find a shooting chance, his pass was dispatched into the top corner by the effervescent MacDonald. Two Harrhy efforts drew superb point blank saves from the Goytre goalkeeper but it stayed 1-1 at the turnaround and was a fair reflection of the game so far. 

In the second half Monmouth started to show why they were the reigning champions, creating a host of chances before a stunning turn in the box by Rob Laurie took three men out of the game and his cross was turned in by Ben Evans. Goytre kept plugging away but lacked a cutting edge.

Another good chance went begging but from a corner a goal mouth melee ended when Harrhy smashed home from close range. With just eight minutes left and with Town attacking on the break it was Harrhy again who dipped his shoulder and hit a low shot under the keeper to seal the win.

Manager Smith was delighted with the result. "I'm really pleased for the lads who have worked really hard to get back into the swing of things.

"I'm more pleased with the performance which was much better than of late and I thought we moved the ball really well and did a lot of the hard yards to earn the win."