Newport City 2-4 Afan Lido
Welsh Blood Service League Cup Quarter Final
Newport Stadium – 24/02/2026
A fiercely contested WBS League Cup tie at the Newport Stadium saw the Steelmen bow out at the quarter-final stage, despite a spirited performance. In an end-to-end encounter packed with chances and momentum swings, clinical finishing from Afan Lido ultimately proved the difference.
The Steelmen made a bright start and went close twice in the opening stages. Rhys Kavanagh forced Afan Lido keeper Exauce Dimonekene into an excellent close-range block. Dimonekene was again called into action where he superbly tipped a powerful strike from Eduardo Bregua over the bar.
The hosts were then briefly put under pressure, with City goalkeeper Elliot Jones saving well from a low effort by Johden De Meyer. The visitors continued to threaten, as Matthew Richards dragged a low half volley narrowly wide. Liam Griffiths also saw a curling effort skim past the post.
The Steelmen soon regained control and again went close to breaking the deadlock. A goal bound header from a corner by Lathan Garrett was cleared off the line. Kavanagh was also again denied as his strike inside the area deflected inches wide.
Those missed chances proved costly in the 36th minute when Afan Lido took the lead. Brandon Roberts raced onto a through ball and delicately lifted his finish over Elliot Jones. City responded well and were rewarded five minutes before the interval. The goal came when Samuel Johnson tucked home at the far post following a cross into the area by Bregua.
HT 1-1
The Steelmen began the second half brightly, with Kyran Steadman firing inches wide from the edge of the area. However their strong start quickly unravelled as Griffiths latched onto a through ball, coolly lifting a finish home in the 49th minute to restore Afan Lido’s advantage.
City had a golden chance to respond when Ellis Sage blazed over after a spill from Dimonekene. They were made to pay soon after, as Richards converted a low strike on the counter attack to make it 3–1 in the 57th minute for the visitors.
Riley Lonergan came agonisingly close to pulling one back for the Steelmen after rounding Dimonekene, only for the ball to be cleared away at the last moment. City did eventually reduce the deficit, as Garrett thundered a superb long range strike in off the underside of the bar. However, the Steelmen’s hopes were short lived. Griffiths grabbed his second of the game moments later, powering a header into the top corner to re-establish the visitors’ cushion.
City threw everything forward in the closing stages, but Afan Lido held firm, bringing the Steelmen’s hopes of cup success this season to a crushing end.
FT 2-4
Newport City Line-Up
Jones, Ward (Sub: Noyes), Garrett ©, Lonergan (Sub: Portch), Bancroft (Sub: Bloom), Sage, Johnson (Sub: Bruton), Kavanagh (Sub: Mace), Bregua, Farrah, Steadman
Unused Subs – King, Cecen