AFC Porth 0 Monmouth Town 0 aet (Monmouth win 6 – 5 on pens) 

Lionel Fessi

Monmouth Town’s Kingfishers showed nerves of steel to clinch a dramatic shoot out at AFC Porth and secure their place in the 2nd round of the FAW Welsh up. Two hours of football couldn’t separate the two sides in a cagey goalless game with few chances unlike the league game at Monmouth which ended all square at 3 – 3 with an Elliot Ford second half trick retrieved a three goal deficit. If that game was open and thrilling this was a more tactical affair with Town matching the Rhondda side in midfield and cancelling each other out in creativity at least. As a result possession and chances were always likely to be at a premium but Dan MacDonald still looked the most likely player to break any deadlock but most of his best work was too far from goal and any crosses he did get in were tantalisingly out of reach of Head and Ford who themselves had to make do with scraps and small opening in a solid Porth defence. At the other end the Town back five were putting in a grudging performance and denying any real openings but Blackburn in the Town goal dealt with anything thrown his way particularly following a slip by Guy which led to a point blank block on the stroke of half time. 

Fessey, Alderdice and Sam Palmer gave as good as they got and the Kingfishers probably shaded the first half . Not so the second as Porth came flying out of the blocks pushing full backs forward to join in more with attacks but in truth created very little of note as both sides kept tight as the game neared extra time . A rasping free kick from MacDonald which drew a good save was the last of the normal time action. 

The extra half hour showed the same pattern as neither side risked opening up too much possibly out of mutual respect although Porth hit the woodwork and a few crosses caused a little panic in the Monmouth defence. But Town sponsored by WyeMedia are made of sterner stuff these days and saw out the game comfortably enough to secure the lottery of the penalty shoot out. And what a competition it was with all ten of the regular penalty takers scoring and giving neither keeper a chance to shine. As with these things there are always heroes and villains and the sixth Porth penalty flew high and wide leaving 18 years Max Fessey (pictured) to etch his name into the Monmouth history books which he did with aplomb to send the visiting supporters home happy. 

Manager Barry Burns was full of praise for his team “We had a game plan which was a little alien to us and we stuck to it and executed it really well. The team showed great maturity in keeping their shape and discipline and hopefully we can get our rewards with a good run in this cup.” 

Postponements elsewhere mean that Saturday's cup clash with Ton Pentre will have to rearranged but Town will be looking for good home draw to progress in the Wales’s premier competition.