MONMOUTH Town bounced back from a midweek defeat at title-chasing Haverfordwest County with a solid performance and win against a resurgent Aberdare Town at Pen-y-pound Stadium.

Wednesday's long trek saw the champions defeated by the only goal of the game in an enthralling encounter at the Conygar Stadium.

However, Andrew Smith's team bounced back to claim a fourth win in five games with goals from Eliot Evans, Dan MacDonald and Nick Harrhy.

The game was watched by FAW Welsh Premier chief Peter Rees and Welsh League secretary Ken Tucker on his first visit to the stadium in 20 years, together with a recreational visit.

They would have been impressed with a second half performance on a sunny day in Abergavenny. Evans opened the scoring for Town within a minute of the restart after a fairly mundane first half that saw Aberdare showing why they have made such a good recovery from the 8–1 beating handed out to them in Aberdare at the start of the season.

Young goalkeeper Matty Johns, in for the injured Keiron Blackburn, had little to do but made a good stop to deny a lead for the visitors. At the other end Town piled on pressure in passages but failed to find the net.

Evans rectified that fault finishing off a good move as Ford crossed and his finish was clinical.

Aberdare got back on terms after creating a number of openings and Smith's experimental back line was caught too high and crooked to allow a run on goal and calm finish by Aberdare's young striker.

Johns pulled off a great save to deny the visitors before MacDonald scored a classy goal from distance to end his drought of eight games without scoring – a rare run for him.

Harrhy's glancing header from a great cross by Cleaves ended the contest as Town saw out the game comfortably. 

Monmouth now move on to a Gwent Senior Cup  semi final clash on Wednesday 8th April at Tredegar, looking to win the trophy for the first time since 1940, before heading back to Pen-y-pound next Saturday (11th April) to take on bottom club AFC Porth in a rearranged game.