Newport City 3-1 Caerau Ely
Newport City halted their six-game winless run in the league with a spirited performance, earning a crucial home win against Caerau Ely. The match, played under the floodlights at Newport Stadium, saw the hosts deliver a commanding display that reinvigorated their season and delighted their home supporters.
The Steelmen burst out of the blocks and seized control of the game from the outset. Josh Graham opened the scoring in the 10th minute with City’s first meaningful chance of the match. Latching onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Jordan Cotterill, Graham rounded Caerau goalkeeper Exauce Dimonekene, before coolly slotting the ball into the back of the net.
Just seven minutes later, the Steelmen converted a near-identical goal to double their lead, evoking a sense of déjà vu. This time, it was Louis Phillips who capitalised on a precise pass from Ethan Wynne. Phillips skillfully rounded Dimonekene on the edge of the area and calmly guided a low, composed finish into the bottom corner. City’s clinical finishing and fluid attacking play left the visitors reeling in the early stages.
The Steelmen came close to adding a third following an uncleared corner, as Lathan Garrett’s close-range effort was expertly tipped over the bar by Dimonekene. The save temporarily kept the scoreline in check, but City remained firmly in control, dictating the tempo and keeping Caerau on the back foot.
The Steelmen were however left stunned just before the interval, as Caerau clawed their way back into the game. Against the run of play, Liam Bishop struck with a low, close-range finish in the 43rd minute, cutting City’s lead in half and injecting fresh hope into the visitors’ camp.
HT 2-1
The Steelmen nearly restored their two-goal cushion when Wynne’s goal-bound effort from inside the six-yard box was heroically blocked by the Caerau defence following a throw-in into the area. Wynne continued to trouble the visitors, delivering a dangerous cross that flashed across the face of goal, only for Dimonekene to intervene with a vital palm to clear the danger.
City breathed a huge sigh of relief after a defensive lapse gifted Caerau’s Joseph Shepard a golden opportunity from just eight yards out. Fortunately for the Steelmen, Shepard’s low effort failed to hit the target, rolling into the side netting.
The scare served as a wake-up call for the Steelmen, who soon came close to adding a third. Owen Cuddihy’s curling cross skimmed the top of the crossbar, while Phillips fired over from a promising position after being released on a swift counterattack.
City’s persistence eventually paid off as they restored their two-goal cushion. Captain Luke Cooper stepped up in the 81st minute, latching onto a smart pass from Robert Atkinson, before delivering a composed finish into the bottom left corner.
The contest was effectively over when the visitors were reduced to ten men after Clayton Farrah was shown a straight red card for a reckless tackle. With Caerau down to ten, any hopes of a late comeback were extinguished. That proved to be the final meaningful action of the game, as the Steelmen closed out the match comfortably and headed into Christmas in high spirits.
FT 3-1
Newport City Line-Up:
Riella, Noyes, Cuddihy Cooper ©, Wynne, Bancroft, Taylor St Clair, Phillips, Graham (Sub: Bonfield), Garrett (Sub: Atkinson), Cotterill (Sub: Caramella-Gerrard)
Subs Not Used: Hooper, Thompson, Bloom