Newport City 4-4 Carmarthen Town

City created the first clear chance as Samuel Johnson was played through, but his low effort was well blocked by Carmarthen keeper Lee Idzi. Carmarthen responded with a powerful long distance strike by Tyler Aylward, which was comfortably held by City keeper Edward King.

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The visitors took the lead in the 21st minute. A dangerous cross into the box found Lewis Reed, who guided a close-range header beyond King and into the net.

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The Steelmen almost levelled immediately through Kayne McLaggon, whose effort from six yards deflected over. McLaggon then headed narrowly wide from the resulting corner.

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City were eventually rewarded when they equalised in the 35th minute. Ellis Sage fired a composed low finish into the bottom-left corner, leaving Idzi flat-footed. However, Carmarthen regained the lead three minutes before the break as Reed looped in his second header of the afternoon.

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There was still time for a third for Carmarthen, with Liam Thomas pouncing a low strike home in stoppage time after City failed to clear their lines.

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​HT 1-3

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The visitors almost stretched their lead early in the second half as Reed chased his hattrick, but King was equal to his low strike at the near post.

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The Steelmen responded superbly and began to take control. Sage surged into the area and crashed a powerful effort against the crossbar, before Rhys Kavanagh dragged a low shot inches wide. The breakthrough came on the hour mark when Johnson produced an acrobatic finish into the top-right corner to reduce the deficit.

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City were eventually level in the 67th minute as Oliver Bruton bundled home from close range following sustained pressure. Riley Lonergan nearly completed the turnaround soon after, as his fierce drive flashed narrowly wide.

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The visitors regained the lead on 82 minutes through Thomas, who finished low into the bottom-left corner after a swift counter attack. The Steelmen were however handed a lifeline two minutes later, when they were awarded a penalty for an alleged foul inside the area. Kavanagh confidently dispatched the spot-kick into the bottom right corner to level the score.

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Both sides had chances to snatch it late on. King tipped Keyon Reffell’s effort around the post, whilst Cole Mace fired inches wide, as a dramatic clash ended all square.

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FT 4-4

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Newport City Line-Up

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King, Ward (Sub: Noyes), Garrett ©, Bancroft, Sage, Johnson, Kavanagh, Lonergan (Sub: Mace), Bregua, Farrah, McLaggon (Sub: Bruton)

 

Unused Subs – Jones, Portch, Berry, Bloom

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