Cefn Fforest 0-0 Newport City (Newport City Win 3-0 on Penalties)

July 30, 2022

Newport City returned to competitive action as they visited Gwent County First Division outfit, Cefn Fforest, in the Welsh Cup first qualifying round. Despite producing a near dominant display, the Steelmen endured a frustrating 90 minutes; and required a penalty shoot-out to secure their progression into the next round.

Following a cagey opening quarter, City took control of the game and frequently threatened the opposition goal. City appeared to have taken the lead when Ben Taylor slotted in from close range, however the goal was disallowed for offside. Gareth Hole then came extremely close to scoring minutes later, but saw his thumping strike smack the underside of the bar before the ball bounced off the goal-line and scrambled away by the hosts.

The Steelmen continued to apply relentless pressure as both Matt Flynn and Liam Head sent low close rage efforts inches wide past the right post; while Declan Joyce fired a shot from the edge of the area narrowly wide over the bar. City came even nearer to scoring though Luke Boyle who saw his 20 yard strike smack off the left post, before seeing the ball rebound away from goal.

The hosts struggled to create any meaningful chances of note, as City keeper Tsvetan Pateev managed to easily deal with tame long range efforts from Vito Farina, Cameron Thomas and Lewis Elston.

HT 0-0

City restarted the game on fire as Louis Angove powered a header into the back of the net; but the goal was once again disallowed for offside. The Steelmen continued to pressurise as both Taylor and Kieran O’Connor saw close range low strikes blocked by Cefn Fforest keeper Callum Davies, while O’Connor also saw his header from a corner cleared off the line. Taylor again came close to scoring as he saw his goal bound header inside the six yard box agonisingly blocked by the hosts’ defence.

Despite all their pressure, City were made to sweat towards the latter stages as the hosts finished the game on the front foot. Dean Powell was forced to clear a strike from Elston off the goal-line, while Tomos Lane saw his low shot from the edge of the area deflect inches wide past the left post. Pateev also had to be on alert as he saved efforts from Farina, Luke Bowen, Callum Price, Nathan Williams and Callum Davidson; ultimately leading to a penalty shoot-out.

FT 0-0

The Steelmen won the coin toss to take penalty kicks first. Despite Taylor’s opening spot kick being saved, City managed to hold their nerves during the shootout as Angove, Head and Boyle all scored their penalties. City had Pateev to thank as he saved all three of the hosts’ spot kicks from Lane, Price and Elston – leaving City to ultimately to breathe a huge sigh of relief as they eventually booked their place into the Welsh Cup second qualifying round.

Newport City win 3-0 on penalties.

Newport City Line-Up:

Pateev, O’Connor, Joyce (Sub: Fortt), Francombe (C), Angove, Boyle, Flynn (Sub: Price), Powell (Sub: Whiting), Hole, Head, Taylor

Unused subs – Harris, Wigley