Aberystwyth Town 0-1 Newport City 

City quickly settled into their rhythm and began to dictate the tempo, with the first big chance falling to Owen Bancroft. His powerful header from close range was somehow kept out by Aber keeper Reece Thompson, who produced a superb diving save to deny an early opener.

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However, the Steelmen didn’t have to wait too long to make the breakthrough. A superb delivery from Richard Noyes found Clayton Farrah rising highest at the back post to nod home a towering header, giving City a 1–0 advantage.

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Aber’s only meaningful effort of the half came from Rackeem Reid, whose ambitious 30-yard strike drifted harmlessly wide. The Steelmen continued to look composed in possession; and had a penalty appeal waved away when Harvey Sing appeared to be fouled inside the box.

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Eduardo Bregua then went close to doubling City’s lead, forcing another fine stop from Thompson, who parried away his close-range strike. Captain Luke Cooper also tested the keeper with a firm header, but the Aber shot-stopper was again equal to it.

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​HT 1-0

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​City began the second half brightly, continuing where they left off before the break. They almost doubled their advantage when a free-kick into the box found Bancroft, whose powerful header was brilliantly tipped around the post by Thompson.

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The Steelmen kept pressing, as Bregua’s saw his curling strike deflect inches wide. From the following corner, Cooper found himself unmarked at the far post but glanced his header narrowly off target.

City continued to dominate possession, forcing a series of corners that caused chaos in the Aber box. However, they couldn’t find the all-important second goal to kill the game off.

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As the contest entered the final ten minutes, Aber pushed forward in search of an equaliser. City keeper Edward King tipped a Zachariah McKenzie header over the bar, before Reid powered a header narrowly over from close range.

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In stoppage time, Jonathan Evans came very close for the hosts, firing inches wide from inside the box as the Steelmen clung on. Aber’s hopes were ended moments later when Desean Martin received his second yellow card, reducing the hosts to ten men.

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The final whistle brought relief and celebration for City, who held firm under late pressure to claim a fully deserved and hard-earned victory.

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FT 1-0

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Newport City Line-Up

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King, Cooper ©, Garrett, Bancroft, Hillman, Kavanagh, Davies (Sub: Noyes), Bregua (Sub: McLaggon), Farrah (Sub: Cadwallader), Steadman, Sing

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Unused Subs – Blackburn, Taylor St Clair, Thompson, Bloom

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