Newport City 0 – 2 Carmarthen Town
Newport City suffered their second successive cup exit in a week following a defeat against JD Cymru South League outfit, Carmarthen Town, in the Welsh Cup second round.
The visitors dominated the opening stages; and came close to scoring on numerous occasions. The first notable chance came when a long ball from Scott Tancock found Jamie Rickard inside the area, but the latter saw his low strike blocked well by the legs of Nzarora. Carmarthen continued to pressurise, with Rickard and Adam John both firing individual efforts inches wide. The visitors continued to threaten as Liam Thomas saw his free kick effort from the edge of the area sail narrowly wide of the right post; while another dangerous free kick strike from Rickard was blocked by the City wall.
The Steelmen eventually weathered the storm; and came close to going ahead before the interval. Rhyse Hudson managed to intercept a pass from Carmarthen, before driving through the opposition defence and deliver an excellent through ball to Gareth Hole. Hole advanced clear inside the area, but frustratingly saw his low shot blocked by the feet of Carmarthen keeper Nick Jones. The ball rebounded to Hudson, whose strike from outside the area was grasped by Nick Jones. City came close again when an upfield free kick found Hudson who ran through on goal, but his low strike was tipped round the left post by Nick Jones.
HT 0-0
Carmarthen restarted the game very strongly and took full control of the second half. It therefore came to no surprise when the visitors eventually took the lead in the 59th minute. The goal came following a superb cross by Jordan Vickers into the six yard box, where Thomas was present to tap into the net. Buoyed by the goal, the visitors threatened to run riot as Thomas, and Samuel Parsons both fired threatening efforts narrowly wide.
Nzarora was forced into action as he tipped away two thumping efforts from John, while Martyn Mickiewicz cleared away a goal bound strike from Bradley Gibbings. Carmarthen’s dominance finally paid off as they doubled their lead in the 89th minute. A corner delivery by Trystan Jones found Tancock at the far post, allowing the latter to power a header into the top right hand corner. There was still time for the visitors to almost treble their lead as Thomas latched on to an attempted back pass by Declan John; Thomas however was thwarted by the legs of Nzarora.
Despite an overall gritty performance, City were ultimately forced to endure another defeat – albeit against superior opponents on this occasion. The club must now focus their attention on the league as they attempt to finally pick up their first points of the season against Blaenavon Blues.
FT 0-2
Newport City Line-Up
Nzarora, Wheeler (Sub: Boyle), Flynn (Sub: Joyce), Mickiewicz, Darling, Wood (Sub: Taylor), Hudson, Wynne, Clifford, Powell (Sub: Leigh), Hole