MONMOUTH Town cruised into the last 16 of the Gwent Amateur Cup with a convincing 4-0 win at home against Crusaders at the weekend.

After two disappointing results, the Kingfishers secured a much needed morale booster as they continue to push for promotion and a cup final this season.

Poor communication, lack of work rate and lack of desire in recent weeks had led to player manager Andrew Smith demanding more from his talented but young squad.

On paper, this cup-tie against Crusaders, who are a side struggling in the league below seemed ideal, but the Third Division outfitted had knocked out high-flying Newport Civil Service in the previous round and so were viewing Monmouth as another potential giant-killing opportunity.

But Town started brightly and the pattern for the rest of the game was set early on as the Kingfishers dominated possession and made their visitors work extremely hard.

But for all their possession, the yellows struggled to create any clear chances until the 20th minute when Sam Palmer dribbled into the box but fired his shot passed the outside post.

Matthew Bowen work-ed tirelessly as ever up front and was a constant thorn in the Crusaders defence.

It was him who linked up with Neville Harris, resulting in Aaron Davies' powerful shot being parried over by the visitors keeper.

The away side rallied and worked hard with - both Andrew Smith and Shane Dorrington were called upon to clear from their own lines. Dorrington cleared from a corner whilst Smith headed bravely away at the far post as two Crusaders attackers arrived late.

The Kingfishers remained dominant but were still performing under their capabilities.

The deadlock was broken eight minutes before the break when a Palmer corner was driven in but spilled by the Cru-saders' keeper between his own legs and into the net.

The second half saw Town producing more slick, crisp attacking football which, at times, ripped their opponents apart.

Five minutes into the half fullback Smith overlapped Andrew Rogers to square it back to Rogers whose rebounded shot was followed up by Simon Wookey.

The game was wrapped up just four minutes later when the much-improved Boucher ended his recent poor spell in front of goal with an exquisite finish with his left foot after more good link up play between Palmer and Harris.

The fourth goal which came on 58 minutes with the help from the away side - a ball from Wookey aimed for Bowen was struck past his own keeper by the Crusader's centre half.

On the previous Saturday Monmouth Town's were embarrassed with a 3-2 defeat at lowly Garnlydan.

The Kingfishers, who are sponsored by Mandarinstone, started by far the better side and were two goals up within fifteen minutes.

Against a very poor side, a rout seemed likely, but the home side fought back and turned the deficit to ensure the town went home pointless. Simon Wookey put the Kingfishers in front with his fifth penalty of the season and centre half Justin Harris volleyed home an Andrew Rogers free kick. The game should have been over then but an abysmal next 75 minutes was to follow.

A needless free-kick was given away thirty yards out and the home striker let fly a rocket that sailed past Robin Pick into the top corner of the net to make the score two one at half time.

The Town only put together two pieces of football all second period, both cutting the home defence open. Firstly, a cross from Aaron Davies found Michael Cleaves who struck the bar then Rogers found himself one-on-one but failed to beat the home 'keeper.

In a physical encounter where the referee failed to gain any control, Garnlydan grew and grew and levelled on 70 minutes when Garnlydan broke from defence to again beat Pick from close range.

Then, with eight minutes remaining, the sucker punch came when some poor defending allowed the home striker to fire into the far corner and send Monmouth home without any points, which may prove costly come the end of the season.