MONMOUTH Town's Kingfishers crashed out of the League cup quarter finals with a desperately poor display against second division opponents.

The home side simply applied themselves better over the two hours of football.

Despite that two contentious decisions by the officials gifted the win to the Newport Stadium based outfit, who contributed to the game going to extra time with some woeful finishing throughout.

At least Llanwern had chances to miss such, was the bleakness of Monmouth's display on a day to forget for the Welsh League Champions.

The game itself was a rather workmanlike affair with both sides playing slow methodical passes with little invention on show.

That which did exist came from the home boys but, although Blackburn was the busier of the two goalkeepers, most of his work was routine. Undeservedly though happily for the majority of the crowd, the visitors took the lead when a corner was smashed against the bar in the 40th minute and Sam Hunt finished through a thicket of players.

The second half was singularly forgettable with few clear cut chances created by Monmouth.

A few opportunities presented themselves for Llanwern that were either snatched at or hit high and wide.

Just as it seemed Monmouth would progress to the semi finals the assistant referee intervened, waving to signal that Sam Palmer had intercepted a shot with his arm just as the referee waved play on.

The assistant's flag won the day and as the penalty was converted, the by now freezing crowd were subjected to a further half hour of uninspiring football.     

Inexplicably Town were handed a lifeline in the second period of extra time when a Llanwern defender was given his marching orders for a poor challenge that on other days would have warranted a warning and in another era a compliment or two.

Even with a one man advantage Monmouth could create very little and when they conceded a corner with barely two minutes remaining it was perhaps inevitable that the men in the middle would have leave another mark on the outcome.

What appeared to most in the ground to be a foul on goalkeeper Blackburn as he gathered the ball from a corner, it drew no response from the officials as he and the ball were bundled into the back of the back net and winning goal was allowed to stand. Blackburn was booked for his protests.

Monmouth return to league action looking so salvage something from a wretched period from the visit of Pontardawe Town to Penypound Stadium on Saturday 28th February at 2pm.