Newport City 1-2 Trethomas Bluebirds

Newport City began 2025 with a frustrating and hard-fought narrow defeat against league leaders Trethomas Bluebirds at the Newport Stadium. Despite battling freezing conditions and a poor playing surface, the Steelmen pushed their high-flying opponents to the limit but ultimately fell short in an agonising contest.

The first half was mostly a closely contested battle, with clear-cut opportunities few and far between. City had the first significant opportunity of the game when Ethan Wynne latched onto a through ball inside the box. However, Trethomas goalkeeper Harry Irving produced a crucial last-ditch clearance to deny the chance.

The Steelmen were left to rue the missed opportunity as they conceded in the 10th minute. A low corner from Kallum Thomas unexpectedly deflected off Owen Cuddihy at the near post and trickled into the bottom left corner, giving the visitors an early lead.

Despite the early setback, City showed resilience and stood toe-to-toe with the league leaders. They came close to equalising when Louis Phillips skillfully drove into the box from the right flank and unleashed a low shot, only for Irving to gather it securely.

Trethomas increased the intensity, nearly adding to their lead when Ethan Edwards broke free inside the box, only to see his low shot deflected narrowly wide by Cohen Riella. Moments later, Riella was called into action again, this time denying Thomas Gameson, whose powerful effort at the near post was well blocked by the City goalkeeper.

The Steelmen were dealt a major blow in the 38th minute in truly bizarre circumstances. A breakdown in communication within City’s defence led to Riella handling the ball outside the area. Although he escaped with just a booking, a more costly mistake followed moments later. Riella inexplicably placed the ball at the feet of Trethomas’ Gareth Tedstone on the edge of the box for the ensuing free kick. Tedstone seized the opportunity, calmly slotting the ball into an empty net with a quick strike, leaving the Steelmen facing an uphill battle.

Stunned by the second goal, City came close to conceding again when Riella had to make a crucial save, denying another effort from Tedstone with a block at the bottom left corner. Shortly before the interval, Solomon Taylor St Clair tried an ambitious lob to reduce the deficit but saw his attempt comfortably caught by Irving.

HT 0-2

The Steelmen began the second half with intent and nearly pulled one back when Josh Graham poked an effort inches wide from six yards out.

City narrowly avoided conceding a third goal when Tedstone broke clean through on goal, only to see his low effort deflect off Riella’s outstretched feet. Gameson came close to extending the visitors’ lead after a corner, but his goal bound strike deflected just inches wide of the right post.

City eventually weathered the storm and capitalised on the visitors’ missed opportunities as they clawed a goal back. The goal came through Josh Graham, who managed to force his close-range effort into the back of the net.

Boosted by the goal, the Steelmen increased the tempo and came agonisingly close to equalising shortly after the hour mark. A powerful strike from Graham rattled the underside of the crossbar, and the follow-up attempt from Bancroft was blocked by Irving from point-blank range. City kept up the pressure and came close once more, with Irving again called into action to make a crucial save, this time denying a low shot from just three yards out by Owen Cuddihy.

Amid the mounting pressure from the Steelmen, the hosts felt aggrieved when a strong penalty appeal was turned down. The referee ignored calls for a handball inside the area after a shot from Cuddihy appeared to strike a member of the Trethomas defence.

As the game entered stoppage time, a cross from Caramella-Gerrard found Jordan Cotterill, whose header from just four yards out was agonisingly grasped by Irving. Despite continued pressure from the hosts, there was no reward, and City began the new year with a heart-wrenching narrow defeat.

FT 1-2

Newport City Line-Up:

Riella, Noyes (Sub: Ward), Cuddihy, Cooper ©, Wynne, Bancroft (Sub: Hillman) Taylor St Clair (Sub: Cotterill), Bateman (Sub: Rowe), Phillips, Graham, Garrett (Sub: Caramella-Gerrard)

Subs Not Used: Young, Cashman