Newport City 0-1 Baglan Dragons

The Steelmen made a bright start, with Jonah Williams going close early on as his long-range effort flashed just wide of the post.

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City were then given a scare when goalkeeper Alex Harris saw a loose pass intercepted by Baglan’s Thomas Davies, but Harris quickly atoned for the mistake with a smart one handed save to deny Davies from close range.

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The Steelmen responded well, as Kyran Steadman met an inviting cross into the area but was unable to generate enough power on his effort. Tyrrel Kenton was next to threaten for City, with his close range effort drifting inches past the top left corner.

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Kenton came close again moments later, striking powerfully from distance. However, Baglan keeper Cameron Clarke was well positioned to gather. The Steelmen remained largely in control for much of the opening half. Despite creating the clearer chances, they were unable to find the breakthrough before the interval.

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​HT 0-0

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It was a disastrous start to the second half for City, who fell behind just two minutes after the restart. Baglan’s Kieran Pason delivered a dangerous cross into the area, where Alex Garland converted a diving header into the bottom right corner. Things almost got worse for the Steelmen moments later when Garland raced through on goal, but his low effort was well blocked by Harris.

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The Steelmen came close again, as Williams headed inches over the crossbar from inside the six yard box. Williams threatened again, seeing a goal bound strike from the edge of the area blocked by the Baglan defence. City continued to pressurise, with Dylan Lynch narrowly missing the target as his free kick drifted just wide of the left hand post.

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The visitors nearly doubled their lead late on, when Andzejs Dubjaga's close range effort looked destined to crawl over the line. However, a goal line clearance from the home defence kept the Steelmen in contention.

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City Substitute Rio Booth then came agonisingly close to levelling the scores, directing a header from inside the six yard box narrowly over the bar. The Steelmen continued to pile on the pressure in the closing stages, peppering the Baglan penalty area with crosses and shots. However, a resolute defensive display from the visitors denied City a breakthrough. Despite their late rally, the Steelmen were unable to find an equaliser as they slipped to another home defeat.

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FT 0-1

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Newport City Line-Up

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Harris ©, Wilson, Parry (Sub: Heffernan), Bregua (Sub: Booth), Lynch, Kenton (Sub: Sage), Williams, Bodenham (Sub: Quarterly), Steadman, Lonergan (Sub: Johnson), Ward

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Unused Subs – Jones, Conaty

 

Report by Marc Davies.

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