Monmouth Town 1, Dinas Powys 1

The Kingfishers' journey to the Division Two title has been not so much of a march as a slow grinding crawl, even a front crawl given the weather which has hampered so much of their progress.

During the week they had lost top spot to Tata Steel for the first time this season as the Steelmen finally caught up in terms of games and points.

For Town this was a first outing for three weeks and in championship challenges momentum is a vital component. No matter. A point here against a Dinas team who had won nine in 10 and another three from the final two games lands the title.

The Kingfishers were nowhere near their best here – perhaps suffering from the lay off on a heavy pitch and playing too predictably against a Dinas team who had come to sit deep and play the percentages.

An early free kick by Dean Palmer was headed just wide at the far post and he forced the keeper to make a great save with a dipping effort minutes later.

Smith was having a good old battle in midfield, supported by Laurie, and Ford was getting some joy down the right hand side.

MacDonald was struggling to get a toe hold in the game but kept looking and probing and saw a difficult volley fly wide. Dinas weathered the storm and came more and more into the game and eventually broke the deadlock on 35 minutes when a superb pin-point free-kick wide on the right by Adam Raymond found Steffan Davies to head home powerfully, giving Tom Pass no chance for one-nil to the visitors.

Dinas looked as if they must increase their lead when a great run down the left by Liam Jeremy ended with a low cross to Gareth Tedstone, but the ball just evaded his outstretched boot from five yards.

The second half started with Monmouth in the ascendancy with the prolific Dan McDonald making space for a snap shot but Lack was equal to it and when a 30-yard free kick found Elliott Ford he hit a great shot just inside the post but Lack dived full stretch to palm it away.

For the full report on this match, see this week's Beacon (2nd May)