Monmouth Town, sponsored by WyeMedia, eased into the second round of the League Cup with a comfortable win over a well below par Dinas Powis at the Sportsground last Saturday.

With Dean Palmer replacing the crocked Aaron Davies and Liam Head making his first start up front for the Kingfishers made most of the early running with Steve Johnson the Dinas keeper soon tested taking a high ball at full stretch and gathering a shot from Liam Head in the first 10 minutes.

Dinas were awarded a free kick just outside the area and Liam Jeremy stepped up but instead of his usual trademark curling shot he elected to hit it hard and low which went just the wrong side of the far post. With Dinas electing to use the long ball tactic a lot of the time the Monmouth back four were finding it easy to gain possession and they began to get well on top, passing the ball along the back four until an opening arose and they had several good chances which were off target, Liam Head latching onto a through ball to hit the side netting, Elliott Ford blazing over the bar when well placed and MacDonald finding Sam Palmer in space but his effort was also over the bar. 

At the other end Dinas had a good chance to open the scoring when Joe Hinds found Richard Yarr but although his shot beat Keiron Blackburn it was just the wrong side of the upright, and midfielder Adam Raymond spun and hit a ball on target but it didn't have enough pace on it to trouble Blackburn and the half ended goalless but Monmouth having the lion's share of possession. 

The second half continued in a similar pattern and Monmouth finally got the opener with nine minutes gone when Ford saw Johnson too far off his line and lobbed superbly over the Dinas keeper for 1-0.

Johnson made amends soon after with a fantastic double save parrying two shots from close range, the first by Rob Laurie and the second by Ford and the danger was finally cleared. Macdonald then cut in from the right wing and hit a rasping shot that cannoned off the post and was cleared but he was not to be denied and 20 minutes into the half he took a cross from the right in his stride to hit an unstoppable shot just inside the left post for 2-0.

Dinas were finding it difficult to get any attacks going and manager Mark Dunford rang the changes but to no avail as Town also replaced midfield pairing Fessey and Laurie with returning skipper Alderdice and also Ashley Ford who both did well. Dean Palmer, pictured below, was the pick of the bunch with an inventive display at right back.  Many thanks to match caterers Raduni Restaurant.

Town are away at bottom of the table Tata Steel next week with transport sponsored by Auto Spares (UK)

By Lee Robson (with thanks to Peter King of Dinas Powys)