TUESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER
Gwent FA Senior Cup Preliminary Round
(at Stable Lane Leisure Complex)
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TUESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER Gwent FA Senior Cup Preliminary Round (at Stable Lane Leisure Complex) |
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Exiles boss, Peter Beadle, was satisfied with the efforts of his youngsters and fringe players on Tuesday night, as County came from behind to defeat a plucky Tredegar Town side at the Stable Lane Leisure Grounds. Returning to the Gwent Senior Cup competition after two years, County found themselves up against a well-organised Tredegar outfit determined not to be outclassed and overrun. As such, a fiercely-contested contest ensued, one that will no doubt have been of great benefit to those County squad players that have spent precious few minutes in serious combat thus far this campaign.
The likes of Mark Dodds, Lee’s Collier and John, James Simpson, Richard Evans and Craig Hughes all tucked an important ninety minutes under their belts, while youngsters from the club’s academy, namely David Pearce, Dan Harrison, Ricky Manship, Shane Brewer and Luke Prosser, certainly didn’t look out of place amongst such company. Mark Dodds in particular was impressive and easily County’s best player on the night, while striker Craig Hughes was his usual all-action self. Lee Collier and Richard Evans made useful contributions, especially during the second period, but Lee John and James Simpson had quieter games.
As the sun disappeared down into the valleys, what had been a pleasantly warm evening suddenly turned bitterly cold and the crowd of around two hundred shivered as County struggled to take a firm grip on proceedings. Both Hughes and John had early efforts fly wide of Kris Morris’ goal, before Tredegar took a surprise lead on 16 minutes after being awarded a rather dubious penalty. Young striker Luke Prosser, back defending a set-piece, was harshly adjudged to have handled and Referee Mr Fewings reacted to Town’s boisterous claims by pointing to the spot. Tredegar’s industrious centre-forward, Neil Mathieson, made no mistake with an expertly-despatched kick into the bottom corner. On 20 minutes, County appeared to have been awarded a penalty of their own as Craig Hughes was brought down after wriggling clear; alas, despite initially awarding the spot-kick, Mr Fewings quickly changed his mind after being alerted to the raised flag of his assistant, who had spotted Hughes handle the ball.
On 25 minutes, Pearce was well positioned to safely gather a 25-yard free-kick from Tredegar’s impressive skipper, Ian Morris, while eight minutes later, Hughes flashed another header inches wide for County. The Exiles finally drew level on 38 minutes when Craig Hughes was afforded far too much space from a Richard Evans corner; the prolific marksman taking full advantage by nodding the ball home with the calmest precision.
If the County supporters that made up the majority of the crowd expected Tredegar to wilt in the second period, they were in for a rude awakening. The doughty Welsh League Two side continued to contest every loose ball, determined the floodgates would not be allowed to open. Mantle and Morris had long range efforts at Pearce’s goal, while Hughes had a 30-yard free-kick saved by Town’s Kris Morris. As the game neared its conclusion, Tredegar’s Mathieson burst clear with a golden opportunity to win the game for the hosts; luckily for County, young ‘keeper Pearce was proving a reliable custodian and he made an excellent block to deny the forward. The potential banana skin was finally averted when the Exiles stole a winning goal just four minutes from time, thus sparing the cold spectators a further thirty minutes of shivering. It was fitting that County’s best player on the night should settle matters, Mark Dodds thundering home a diving-header after Richard Evans’ fine run and cross from the bye-line.
Man of the match (Tredegar): Ian Morris (lead by example) Man of the match (County): Mark Dodds (imposing and organised) |
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© Colin Jeremiah |
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