Newport City 0-0 Ammanford
JD Cymru South
Newport Stadium – 01/11/2025
Newport City were left frustrated as they were forced to settle for a point against a resilient Ammanford side. Despite periods of dominance, the Steelmen couldn’t find the clinical edge needed to secure all three points in a game that lacked much sparkle.
A quiet opening twenty minutes saw little to separate the sides, with neither team able to create any clear-cut chances. Ammanford’s Callum Thomas produced the first real opportunity of the match, finding space inside the box but firing his effort well over the bar. That seemed to spark the visitors into life, as a series of corners caused some unease in the City defence.
The Steelmen responded with their first meaningful effort when Owen Bancroft rose well to meet a cross, but his header was comfortably held by Ammanford goalkeeper Luke Martin. Moments later, Rhys Kavanagh tried his luck from the edge of the area, sending a strong drive just wide of the right-hand post.
Ammanford’s Gavin Jones then saw an opportunistic strike from 15 yards clear the bar, summing up a half short on quality in the final third. Overall, it was a scrappy and uneventful first 45 minutes, with neither side able to find a breakthrough.
HT 0-0
City began the second half with greater purpose and attacking intent, as both Bancroft and Eduardo Bregua went close. Bancroft glanced his header inches wide before Bregua, unmarked, also nodded narrowly past the post moments later.
The hosts continued to push forward; and substitute Kayne McLaggon nearly made an immediate impact. His low, goal-bound effort from six yards was brilliantly blocked by Martin, who became increasingly busy as the half wore on.
As the game entered its final stages, both sides began to tire and the contest became scrappy once again. The Steelmen almost snatched a winner late on when Clayton Farrah’s header from a free-kick was acrobatically tipped around the post by the outstanding Martin.
Ammanford offered a late reminder of their threat, as City keeper Edward King was forced to palm away a dangerous strike from Daniel John.
Despite a much-improved second-half display, the Steelmen couldn’t make their pressure count as they were rue to reflect on two points dropped.
FT 0-0
Newport City Line-Up
King, Noyes, Cooper ©, Garrett, Bancroft (Sub: Cadwallader), Hillman (Sub: Thompson), Kavanagh, Bregua (Sub: Mace), Farrah, Steadman, Sing (Sub: McLaggon)
Unused Subs – Blackburn, Taylor St Clair, Bloom