IT was a match between the division's top two teams at Pen y Pound Stadium on Thursday 26th March as second placed Monmouth took on table-topping Taffs Well, in front of a good sized crowd.

Earlier in the season Monmouth travelled to Taffs Well in high spirits after a promising run of victories only to be demolished 10-1 – a result that did not flatter the hosts. In the reverse fixture, that result was clearly on the mind of every Monmouth player as they stormed out of the blocks looking to avenge that defeat.

The Kingfishers began with Brad Baker as central striker, Tyler Broom on the right and Jack Hardman on the left and from the kick-off the power, pace and purpose of that trio caused Taffs Well endless problems.

After only three minutes, a defence splitting ball from the right found a determined Hardman bursting through the middle at full speed.

Leaving the defence floundering in his wake as he powered a low shot to the keeper's left and into the bottom corner of the net.

1-0 and just the start Monmouth had dreamed of.

Monmouth continued to dominate the early exchanges as their midfield produced precise and clinical passes time and again.

Tom Hodge in particular was in imperious form, always seeming to have a little more time on the ball then everyone else, and with his usual composure was able to pick passes at will.

It came as no surprise when, after nine minutes, yet another inch perfect pass found striker Baker, who took the ball around Taffs Well's onrushing keeper at pace and calmly rolled it into an unguarded net from a tight angle to make it 2-0.

It was no more than the home side deserved, but gradually Taffs Well began to get a bit more of the ball, and after around 15 minutes Fraser Soper in the Monmouth goal got his first touch of the ball.

As the half wore on, the game became more even as both sides traded blows.

Taffs Well threatened from dangerous dead-ball situations and crosses while Monmouth continued to try to pass their way through to the speedy front three, but both defences held firm.

Callum Hodges and George Clarke in central defence for Monmouth were on the top of their game and the former marshalled those around him manfully as the Taffs pressure increased.

Taffs Well resorted to shooting from distance but anything on target was ably dealt with by Fraser.

Then, after about 30 minutes, Monmouth were dealt a blow when Tom Hodge was forced of with a knee injury and from this point Taffs began to get the upper hand, applying increasing pressure on the home team's defence.

With half-time just two minutes away it seemed that the home side would go in with a two goal lead, but another spell of Taffs pressure paid off when they scored with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

So the sides changed ends with Monmouth leading 2-1.

The second half started with Monmouth still reeling from conceding just before half time and Taffs flew at the home team, clearly believing that they could now go on to take all three points.

Then, just 4 minutes into the second half, the equalizer came.

A succession of corners culminated in a scuffed corner from the Taffs finding its way into the middle of the 6-yard box and being poked home from close range.

Taffs Well's tails were now well and truly up but Monmouth dug deep and refocused to work their way back into the game and the pattern was set for the rest of the game.

Taffs applied great aerial pressure from crosses and set pieces but the Kingfishers' rearguard remained resolute.

Monmouth continued to pass the ball around but just couldn't find the guile to break down a stubborn Taffs' defence.

Each side pressed and created half-chances without really threatening to score.

The inevitable substitutions and changes of formation and tactics followed towards the end of the second half but neither side could find a breakthrough piece of magic, and with it a winner.