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Weekend Round-Up: Mixed Fortunes for the Kingfishers
A mixed weekend for Monmouth Town, with a cup exit for the firsts and a first home win for the Women.
Having reached the final in 2024, the Kingfishers were hoping to go one step further again in this year’s GCFA Senior Cup. However, a defeat away to Sifil ended that dream in the first round on Saturday.
Town controlled the course of play for the majority of the game, but the hosts managed to contain the pressure and sent the game to penalties. Having not had much to deal with throughout the match, Monmouth’s Jack Harris was forced into action.
Despite Taylor Street converting from the spot, his teammates were unable to follow suit, knocking the Kingfishers out of the cup in the first round.
The reserves also suffered a tough away trip to Caldicot Town Reserves in East Gwent Division 1 action, losing 2-0. The Monmouth Town sides in action on Sunday fared better, with wins for the Women and Youth sides.
Firstly, the Women welcomed Coed Eva Athletic Ladies to the Monmouth Sports Ground in a match that started closely contested between the two sides before the home side ran away with the game.
After half an hour, both sides had chances on goal, but neither could break the deadlock until the home side found the opener through Grace Odrovakavula in the 36th minute.
As the game reached the halfway point, the Kingfishers maintained their 1-0 advantage, looking to extend their lead in the second 45 minutes.
That was exactly what they did just four minutes into the second period, with Keegan Marks scoring the second, assisted by Rosie Bennett.
Coed Eva did get themselves back into the game just under ten minutes later, but Odrovakavula quickly restored her side’s two-goal lead in the 61st minute after a great solo run.
The home side continued to grow into the game and scored a fourth in the 72nd minute through Jessica Stoddard, with Bennett getting her third assist of the game.
The match ended with three late goals, with Odrovakavula securing her hat-trick, while Bennett and Stoddard also added to the scoreline as the final whistle blew on a 7-1 win. The result marked the girls’ first win at home since their formation at the start of this season.
The youth side also celebrated a win away to Chepstow U18s later in the day, securing a 4-2 victory against The Jockeys. The match featured a hat-trick from Lucas Harris and a goal from Albert Escott.
This weekend, Monmouth Town return to league action away to Cefn Fforest on Saturday, with the seconds welcoming Caldicot Castle to the Monmouth Sports Ground in the first round of the Ben Cup.
On Sunday, the Women are at home to Undy Women Reserves in a league match, while the U18s are on the road against Llanyrafon Junior U18s in Youth League Cup action.