Newport Stadium looked immaculate for the day with a crowd of 4,616, the largest to assemble at a football match in the city for 20 years, neatly packed into the arena with its temporary stand at the cricket ground end giving it an enclosed atmosphere.  The weather was kind which was just as well for the large Swansea contingent packed into the open terrace opposite and the noise levels were reminiscent of the more successful times of Newport County Mark One.

 

County manager Peter Beadle, again denied the services of injured left-back Damon Searle, kept faith with the starting line-up which had earned us victory at Tonbridge in the last round of the FA Cup with new signing from Torquay United, Darren Garner taking his place on the substitutes’ bench.

 

If our visitors found the occasion intimidating though, they made a good job of concealing it and their first half football was assured, confident and attractive to watch.  And watch it was all County could do for a while as Swans went all out for the early goal which would settle any nerves.

 

It took just seven minutes to arrive as County struggled to move out of their own half and when Shaun Macdonald threaded a pass through to Lee Trundle, the Swans goal ace had timed his run to perfection to beat the offside trap and he rounded Mark Ovendale to score.  County continued to live dangerously and must have been starting to despair when in a rare attack Sam O’Sullivan was pushed over by Kevin Amankwaah near the corner flag only to receive a lecture from referee Tony Bates for his trouble!

 

Nathan Davies picked up a caution on 21 minutes for an offence not apparent to most spectators, and the darker side of Trundle emerged when he was penalised for elbowing Paul Cochlin in the midriff, though no card followed.  When a side is being outplayed, and County clearly were at this time, it is easy to regard the officials as scapegoats, but Bates continued to infuriate by halting a two against two break with Craig Hughes leading the charge on the halfway line, to award us a free-kick in our own penalty area!

 

The incident which lit the blue touchpaper came in the 31st minute when an apparently untouched Trundle tumbled over on the edge of the box, and an assistant referee flagged for a free-kick.  Mr Bates seemed to indicate no foul but ‘went with the flag’ and from Andy Robinson’s flighted ball into the box, Izzy Iriekpen found freedom to head Swans two goals in front.  Whether or not the free-kick should be awarded quickly becomes irrelevant and defending the set piece must be the only consideration.

 

Manager Peter Beadle was clearly furious with the free-kick decision and was ordered from the dugout, after Alan Sheffield, the fourth official, had brought his comments to the referee’s attention.  Mr Sheffield was then poleaxed by a coin thrown from the Spytty Park terrace and suffered extensive bleeding to a wound near to his eye.  The game was held up for eight minutes while he was treated and then removed, apparently unconscious, on a stretcher.  We understand that, thankfully, he has since recovered but there were serious fears for his health, and the club has stressed its intention to apprehend any spectator who throws objects onto the field.

 

In the third minute of first half added time, Mr Bates played a very good advantage for Swansea after a John Brough foul and Robinson crossed for Leon Britton to head a third goal.  Julian Alsop then served notice of County’s second half intentions by heading against the post from a Jason Bowen corner.

 

County were a revelation after the break and Ian Hillier quickly reduced the arrears from a Bowen free-kick and it was Swansea’s turn to live on their nerves whenever jittery keeper Willy Gueret was under pressure.  Garner was introduced in midfield for his debut in place of Lee Collier after 55 minutes and quickly made an impact with his skill on the ball complementing the tackling of Davies.

 

There were chances for Alsop, Bowen and Matt Green who also made an entry as substitute, while the tightly marked Hughes struck the outside of the post.  A second goal would certainly have made life interesting but it was not forthcoming and Swans continued to be dangerous on the break.  Ovendale was easily the more impressive of the two keepers however and the final score was both a fair reflection and a respectable outcome given the quality of the visitors’ display.

 

We now wish Swans every success in the competition with Lady Luck giving them a tricky trip to the north east with an away game at Darlington in the next round.

 

                                County:  Ovendale, Hillier, Brewer (Evans 84), Davies, Brough, Cochlin, Bowen, Collier (Garner 55), Alsop, Hughes, O’Sullivan (Green 65).   Subs not used: Edwards, Giles

 

Scorer:  Hillier (48).

Cautions:  Davies (21 foul), Brough (45+3 foul), Alsop (63 persistent misconduct), Hughes (72 foul).

 

                                Swans (4-4-2)  Gueret; Amankwaah, Iriekpen, Lawrence, Austin; Britton (O’Leary 83), Tate, Macdonald, Robinson; Trundle (Butler 75), Fallon (Akinfenwa 83).   Subs not used: Jones, Oakes.

 

                                Scorers:  Trundle (7), Iriekpen (31), Britton (45+3).

                                Caution:   Tate (74).

 

                                Official County Man of the Match:  Paul Cochlin.

                                Reporter’s County Man of the Match:  Paul Cochlin.

                                Reporter’s Swansea Man of the Match: Andy Robinson.

 

                                  Referee:  Tony Bates (Stoke-on-Trent)

                                Assistants:  Brendan Malone (Salisbury), Neil Radford (Worcester).

 

                                Attendance:  4,616 (ground record).