WITHOUT a league game again last Saturday Monmouth Town's 1st XI enjoyed, or rather endured, a return to their home ground with a friendly against third Division Lliswerry.

The Kingfishers took the opportunity to stay fresh for a game last night (Tuesday) against early title challengers Penybont.

In a match most of the players, management and supporters would rather forget, Town did at least parade new signing Sam Hunt who joins the club from Pegasus FC, but who will have to wait for clearance before he can make his bow.  

With half a season gone Town now lie in ninth place, though with games in hand.

A staggering ten home games from their remaining fifteen will see the side confident that they can at least have a major say in what happens to the Welsh League title.

The team are also in the semi final of the Gwent Senior Cup for only the second time since 1940 and reached the quarter finals of the League Cup for the first time ever with a win at Pontypridd last time out, so a half term report would probably be a B+ with a "could do better" added.

School teacher manager Andrew Smith said: "We've not really been at our best at all and have been decidedly off colour since Christmas.

"Its all about games and we haven't been able to get a run going with games being cancelled.

"It's no excuse however for a lack of effort and we will have to be giving it 100 per cent to get anything from the season".

 Smith was pleased with his new signing though and hasn't ruled out a few more fresh faces in the next couple of weeks. "Sam is a good player and will fit in with the way we play.

"I'm disappointed we couldn't land a few others but players are loyal by and large and it works both ways.

"We do need some more bodies to freshen things up and get some competition for places so we'll keep looking."

 Town are without a game again on Saturday but return to league action with home games on 7th and 10th February, and will be hoping to gather momentum from those games against Goytre United and a return game with Penybont, already beaten 3–1 in cup action this season.