In a thrilling encounter on August 7th, Pontnewynydd AFC, the reigning Gwent Central League champions and newly promoted to the Gwent Premier League Division Two, took on Newport Saints FC, a team considered among the elite of local football, two divisions above them. The match, held at The Ruffets, showcased the grit, determination, and spirit of a team punching well above their weight
Match Report: Pontnewynydd AFC vs Newport Saints FC
Date: August 7th, 2024
Competition: Gwent Premier League County Motors Challenge Cup
Round: One
Venue: The Ruffets
Kick-Off: 18:15
Referee: Scott Brown
Match Summary
Pontnewynydd AFC started with intent, surprising the Newport Saints faithful with an early goal. Mitchell Howells caught the Saints’ goalkeeper off guard with a speculative effort from inside the opposition half, giving the home side a dream start in the 10th minute. The underdogs’ joy, however, was short-lived. Newport Saints equalized in the 20th minute when Jaydon Saunders, with blistering pace, latched onto an over-the-top ball and slotted it past Ashley Paine.
The Saints continued to exploit Saunders’ speed, and it paid dividends again in the 27th minute. Another precise through ball saw Saunders double his tally and give the visitors a 2-1 lead. Despite trailing, Pontnewynydd displayed their quality, dominating possession and creating several chances. Aeron Higgs’ header hit the post, and Stephen Farr’s effort rattled the crossbar, leaving the home crowd ruing missed opportunities.
Half-Time: Pontnewynydd AFC 1-2 Newport Saints FC
The second half began with both teams sharing possession, but Newport Saints’ halftime adjustments seemed to give them a slight edge. In the 63rd minute, Jonathan Vowles extended the Saints’ lead with a stunning long-range effort that caught the Pontnewynydd defense off guard. At 3-1, the game seemed to be slipping away from the home side.
However, Pontnewynydd refused to go down without a fight. They pushed forward with renewed vigor, controlling possession and creating chances. Despite their dominance, they couldn’t find the breakthrough they needed. Instead, Saunders completed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute, capitalizing on another swift counter-attack to make it 4-1.
Just a minute later, Pontnewynydd’s resilience paid off. Alan Hunt found the net to reduce the deficit to 4-2, reigniting hope among the home supporters. Pontnewynydd continued to press but couldn’t find the goals required to mount a comeback.
Full-Time: Pontnewynydd AFC 2-4 Newport Saints FC
Manager’s Thoughts
Harry Furness, Pontnewynydd’s manager, praised his team’s performance despite the defeat:
“Considering Newport Saints are two leagues above us, the lads gave a fantastic account of themselves. We dominated large portions of the game and created several chances. Credit to Newport Saints for their clinical finishing and the pace of Jaydon Saunders, which was the difference tonight. We’ll take the positives from this game and look forward to the league season ahead.”
Respect for Newport Saints FC
Pontnewynydd AFC also extended their gratitude to Newport Saints FC for their sportsmanship and professionalism. “They’re a fantastic team with a strong setup, and we wish them the best in the competition and their league campaign,” added Furness.
Watch the Highlights
Relive the action by watching the match highlights on the Pontnewynydd AFC YouTube channel. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe!
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Team Sheets
Pontnewynydd AFC Starting XI:
18 Ashley Paine (GK), 4 Adam McCalmont (C), 9 Alan Hunt, 11 JC Franklin, 12 Liam Thomas, 15 Aeron Higgs, 20 Harry James Day, 25 Kyle Baldwin, 30 Stephen Shaun Farr, 32 Mitchell Howells, 72 Mathew Evans
Substitutes:
6 Joel Parsonage, 8 Harry Jenkins, 13 Lewis Gareth Bessell, 19 Joshua Thomas, 33 Rhys Haycock
Manager: Harry Furness
Newport Saints FC Starting XI:
1 Nathan Florence (GK), 6 Jordan Satchell, 9 Johnathan Vowles, 11 Blair Bailey, 13 Anthony Connors, 19 Dwaine Bailey (C), 26 Joseph Law, 42 Jack Williams, 50 Edward Kaya, 61 Rhuben McKenley Jones, 96 Jaydon Saunders
Substitutes:
5 Yahya Baldeh, 30 Amir Habibi, 59 Christopher Webb, 79 Connor Godsall, 95 Jayden Ward
Manager: Christopher Webb
