Welsh League Division Two Champions

Kingfishers Make A Point Aberdare Town 3 Monmouth Town 3

Saturday 11th August 2012 Monmouth Town kicked off their first season in the top flight of the Welsh League with an entertaining, hard fought three all draw at Aberdare Town last Saturday. Sporting their new maroon away strip, the Kingfishers raced into a two goal lead via last season’s top scorer Dan Macdonald but were then pegged back and equalised through Aaron Davies with seventeen minutes to go. Aberdare were playing their first game under their new name, having changed it during the close season from Aberaman Athletic, who themselves had won the Welsh league title as recent as 2010. The Town, sponsored by WyeMedia, made a couple of changes from the side that beat Newport Civil Service seven days previously with Smith replacing the injured Alderdice in midfield and Davies coming in for the unfortunate Dean Palmer at left back to try and add more aerial presence at set pieces. It was a case of more of the same as the Town broke down the right flank with the pace of Elliot Ford to force corner as early as the second minute. From the resulting corner, a headed clearance found Macdonald just outside the box. Macdonald settled himself and struck a sweet shot into the bottom corner to give the league debutants a dream start. Aberdare, although stunned, then started to enjoy large spells of possession as Monmouth sat back. Despite looking extremely comfortable with the ball at their feet, it was the longer, direct style from former Cardiff City defender Lee Jarman that caused the most problems for the Kingfishers back four. On the quarter of an hour mark, spectators were left breathless as they witnessed a sensational strike from Macdonald to double the Towns lead. Blackburns scuffed clearance found the number 10 just inside the oppositions half an three seconds later and the ball had sailed over the home keepers head and under the crossbar into the net as Macdonald reciprocated the infamous David Beckham goal from the half way line. In truth, the home side then dominated the rest of the half and caused numerous chances of their own. Aberdare thought they had pulled a goal back when the centre forward raced through and slotted past Blackburn but the assistants flag for offside kept the Town two goals in front. Warning signs were creeping in and Blackburn made a fantastic point blank save from a header three yards out. On the few occasions the Kingfishers did attack, they certainly looked threatening. Fords pace and Macdonald’s precise passing showed why the Town amassed over 100 goals last year and certainly gave evidence that they can still score goals at their new level. Full back Ashley Ford fired narrowly wide after good build up play from Bowen and the elder Ford brother and Macdonald weaved himself into the area only to find is shot saved by the legs of the home stopper. The lead was halved however just five minutes before the break. A carbon copy of the move that resulted in Blackburn’s point blank save this time was finished with a crisp volley from five yards as the centre forward ghosted in unmarked. The hosts must have gone in wondering how they were trailing after enjoying most of the possession. The start of the second period started in the same manner with the home side enjoying large periods of possession and the visitors sitting back absorbing pressure. The long diagonal ball in behind however, was still the main cause of concern for the Town as they found their back four being turned on numerous occasions. With seven minutes of the half gone, the scores were level. Davies tried keeping a pass from Jacob Guy but was dispossessed and the cross into the box found the centre forward to stab home from a tight angle.

The large home crowd sensed that the tide had turned and it certainly looked as if the home side would go onto win the game. Just six minutes later and the home side were in front. A free kick out wide was delivered to the far post where a home defender headed home into the far corner of the net. The Kingfishers then had to change from their defensive set up in order to get anything from the game and they started to play some of their trademark football themselves. Although the home side still had more share of the ball, the Town again looked dangerous going forward. Ford forced a corner on the right and as Laurie challenged the keeper, he misjudged the flight of the ball and it hit Davies at the far post to level the scores at three all. Both sides then created half chances to win the game which was being played at a far greater pace than any of last season’s fixtures. The Town defended a number of corners and Guy swept up well when called upon. Bowen couldn’t quite connect fully with a shot when well placed and Dean Palmer, who had replaced Ashley Ford, struck a shot from twenty yards which was also well saved. Macdonald nearly won it late on with a left foot dipping volley that produced an outstanding save from the home keeper. 18 year old Max Feesey cam on late for Dan Spence for his Kingfishers’ debut. The full time whistle sounded and the Town, despite having a two goal lead, can be more than happy with a point from their first game in Division One. Manager Barry Burns was satisfied with the performance and commented after the game. “That was a real test for our boys and a real eye opener for some of the lads. We didn’t really keep the ball as well as we can but you have to give full credit to Aberdare for the way they kept possession. Macca gave us a dream start and we probably went a little too negative after that but we’ll certainly learn from it. One thing for certain is that our lads have realised that you have to be fully concentrated and fully focussed for the whole game because there are some excellent footballers in this league who will punish you with one lapse of concentration. Having said that, I can’t fault any of our lads for their hard work and endeavour. We probably need to believe in ourselves a little more because we certainly have the fore power to be a real threat when we get at teams”. The Town now travel to County rivals Cwmbran Celtic on Tuesday and head to Swansea based West End next Saturday. If you are interested in sponsoring the Town’s new away kit please contact the club. Town: Blackburn; A.Ford (D.Palmer), Guy, Spence( Feesey), Davies; Smith, Laurie; S.Palmer, Macdonald, E.Ford; Bowen(Lewis) Goals: Macdonald 2, 16, Davies 73 Booked: Smith 18, Lewis 81.