Boss says Town were robbed' (From Free Press Series)

Boss says Town were robbed'

MONMOUTH Town assistant manager Andrew Lewis says his side were robbed of a certain victory at Christchurch Hamb-den on Saturday, after a dubious decision by the referee.

Lewis and club boss Andrew Philpotts were infuriated by what they described as a blatant off-side and hand ball by one of the Christchurch players that led to their equaliser.

It clawed the home side back into the game, and now leaves Town locked at the bottom of the Gwent County Division Two table with Rogerstone on eleven points.

"We were robbed," insisted a dejected Lewis. "It was ours for the taking, but the referee lost it for us with that decision. Not only was their player off-side, but he used his hand to put the ball into the net for the goal. It was so obvious."

Town had led three times in the match with two goals from centre midfield David McDonald and a Darren Vaughn strike. It was a game they desperately needed to win to keep them above water in the table.

A draw, though, means they could be in danger of falling further away from the pack and into a football abyss.

"The result is very hard to swallow. As a team we played so well. There's been games before where we've played bad and deserved to lose, but we didn't on Saturday.

"Everyone gave their all and the result just doesn't fit their efforts. But the referee's decision stands, so we'll just have to get on with it," said Lewis.

Town can draw plenty of positives from the performances of their players, and if they can muster similar displays throughout the rest of the campaign, they will surely keep their Gwent County League status.

"Charlie Bye and the rest of the defence were excellent. They battled and did nothing wrong.

"Aaron Davies in the midfield was awesome, too. He really did run the show. That's why the result is such a shame. We gave everything, played well, but lost out," sighed Lewis.

It's all a far cry from just eight-years-ago when Town won the Second Division championship and were riding on a high. Though Lewis insisted they will avoid the dreaded drop.

"I've got a good feeling we are going to be OK. There's only a couple of points in it and two wins on the trot and we're right out of it, it's that tight. The lads just need to keep confident."

Town are away to West Pontnewydd this Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm.

Monmouth Town U18s beat Llanyravon 3-2, with goals from Matthew Bowen, Craig Lewis and Nick Windeley.