A superb performance from a severely depleted Monmouth Town secured all three points against Welsh League favourites and former Welsh Premier side Haverfordwest County.

The Kingfishers, sponsored by WyeMedia, travelled for their clash with the Bluebirds with only eleven fit players as first team regulars Guy, Alderdice, Elliot Ford and Rob Laurie all had other engagements while Kennedy Smith and Ashley Ford failed to recover from injury. With Bowen having decided to hang up his boots for the interim and a raft of reserve team players also not available Managers Burns and Pick reshaped the side handing rare starts to 18 year olds Burns and Cleaves, a debut to new signing from Caerleon Ben Evans and a first outing in central midfield for Sam Palmer. Just turned 18 Max Fessey made his first start as his partner.

Conversely Haverfordwest handed a start to recent signing from Llanelli and former Kilmarnock star player Scott Evans and the rest of the side contained a large smattering of players with football league experience, although they lost former Norwich city player Deryn Brace after only a minute. Given the  circumstances the Kingfishers could have been forgiven for attempting a bit of damage limitation.

After the long trek in Sam Hale's mini bus Monmouth weathered an early storm as a succession of County corners came to nought and as the defence held firm started to get a foothold in the game with Fessey playing like a veteran in his man of the mach performance, Maxted's pace sounding warning s and the ever inventive MacDonald getting some shots on target. Burns led the line well against the veteran Elliot and gave as good as he got in some early scraps. On the half hour it was one scrap too many for the home defender as he lashed out at Burns off the ball giving the referee no option but to wave a red card and point to the penalty spot. MacDonald's boot did the rest from 12 yards to give the visitors an unlikely lead. 

Town were enjoying the superb surface which suited their passing game and defended well in numbers against dangerous play from former Carmarthen winger Stefan Williams who caused problems down the Town left. MacDonald however was in his element receiving and moving and looking a class apart with Evans growing into the game, Davies winning the majority of challenges and Palmer having an enjoyable time in the middle of things for a change.

For the full report on this match, or information about the next feature, see this week's Beacon (29th August).