Monmouth's Kingfishers lost out to a late goal in this thriller at Haverfordwest's Conygar Stadium, but covered themselves in glory in many ways with as good a performance by a Monmouth football team as this correspondent has witnessed in 10 years or more.

Starting out in second place against unbeaten favourites for Welsh Premier status Haverfordwest and after making the three-hour trip, the early exchanges saw the home team 2-0 up after just 20 minutes.

A breakaway goal on 15 minutes saw Stefan Williams slot home to put the Bluebirds one up and a lapse just five minutes later was punished by Jack Christopher.

A that stage the portents for the afternoon were not good.

But Town were not to be denied and for an hour produced some breathtaking possession football and incisive passing with Elliot Evans pulling the strings, Dean Lee rapacious as usual and Dan MacDonald, looking to recapture some of his form, running the show from the number 10 position.

Alderdice and Clare were simply majestic for long periods breaking up play and always available while Sam Palmer also looked to have rediscovered some fight.

Elliot Ford pulled one back on 35 minutes to set up an intriguing second half which didn't disappoint and early in the second half Nick Harrhy finished superbly to make it 2-2.

The league leaders were then on the back foot for most of the half but still threatened with Stefan Williams always dangerous and Christopher looking every inch the Premier striker he should be.

Ford fizzed a strike on goal, Lee hassled and carried and Evans in midfield was starting to show why he was so highly rated, keeping possession and playing intricate passes.

It seemed only a matter of time before the winner came. When it did it was not for the Kingfishers.

Just as the home crowd were willing the end to settle for a point and the Haverfordwest management had opted to go long at every opportunity, a lapse in concentration cost the visitors dearly as Christopher nodded on and Williams finished with aplomb.

Moments earlier Blackburn had denied Christopher with a superb stop from point blank range but the home side will count this as a huge win particularly after being second best for so long.

Town, for a change, can't rue missed chances more a matter of being caught cold but if the performance is anything to go by then manager Steve Jenkins can rightly be pleased with a blend of hard work and creativity that threatens something special over the coming months.

This Saturday, Town are in Welsh Cup action in the Rhondda valley against AFC Porth but the Town's academy is in Welsh League Premier action on Sunday at the Sports Ground with games at 10.30am and 12.30pm.