Merlins Bridge 0 Monkton Swifts 2 MONKTON Swifts gained sweet revenge over Merlins Bridge and this result has just about sealed their third successive title.

The two sides met a few week's ago and the Bridge inflicted a first defeat of the season over the champs in their own backyard.

However, this time round Benno Jones's Swifts got the measure of their opponents and deservedly came out on top.

Both sides started brightly with opportunities at both ends. Adam Raymond's well-taken corner curled towards goal and required a good save from Swifts keeper Craig Reardon.

Minutes later Swifts' Lee Jones struck a wicked 25 yard free kick inches wide.

With 15 minutes gone, the Bridge created probably their best piece of attacking play of the half.

Guy White's well-placed ball upfield found striker Danny Williams, his attacking run toward goal was cruelly halted as the ball stopped in its tracks in a puddle and this gave Monkton's defence time as they cleared the ball and denied Williams a shot on goal.

It was the champs who began to display their class and opened up the Bridge defence.

A series of quality passes in and around the Bridge box set up Dean Driscoll who fired a shot from the edge of the box. Keeper Dai Smith dived to deny the striker but the rebounding ball found unmarked Swifts striker Stephen Davies and he made no mistake with a simple tap-in.

Lee Jones looked dangerous in attack and his 25-yarder required a good save from Smith minutes before the interval.

Merlins Bridge held off growing pressure from Swifts in search of their second and at half time only a goal separated the two teams.

But the high-flying Swifts were finally rewarded with another goal in the 65th minute.

A piece of well-worked attacking play opened up the opportunity for Dean Driscoll, whose clinical finish doubled the Swifts lead.

Despite the Wizards trying to claw their way back, on the day even they had to concede that they were second best.