A MIXED week for the Kingfishers saw it begin with a thumping 10 – 0 Gwent Senior Cup final win against Monmouthshire rivals Undy Athletic.

This was the team's best win for ten years and was followed by a possibly hubristic defeat by mid table Cambrian in Town's worst defeat for a number of years.

Indeed if Tuesday's win was a pleasure to watch Saturday's defeat dealt pain in bucket loads as the Kingfishers simply failed to deal with the home side's better work rate and application despite a blistering start that should have secured the game for the league champions.

Saturday's team began with a swagger that had seen them score 21 in four games and conceded just one and they created a host of chances in the first fifteen minutes as crosses flashed across goal, shots flew high and wide and it seemed only a matter of time before the besieged Carina goal was breached.

That it wasn't, encouraged the Rhondda outfit, who had made an indifferent start to the season despite always being one of the main challengers.

A recent managerial change has seen an improvement in results and the home side suddenly created a couple of chances of their own, hitting the bar with one foray and coming close just minutes later.

The encouragement was all they needed and they took the game to Monmouth competing better all over the park as Town started to go long too early too often and were distinctly second best in the physical stuff.

The tide had turned and it was no surprise to see Cambrian take the lead just before half time as unmarked players queued up to dispatch a low cross into the box.

Town did create one chance early in the second half but thereafter failed to develop any approach play and fell apart with a poor pass or a misplaced tackle. Another defensive mix up saw Alderdice put through his own goal for 2 – 0.

Substitutes at this stage were too little too late as Smith sought to grab a lifeline by pushing more men forward.

Credit to Cambrian for not allowing themselves to be pushed backwards and they retained their threat on the break, finishing the game off with another breakaway and a cross to the back post which was turned in across Blackburn to make it three.

For work rate alone the 2012 champions deserved their win and will give Smith plenty to think about before a trip to Goytre United next Saturday and the crucial Welsh Cup 2nd round tie against Penybont on 8th November.