Newtown 0-1 (0-5) Dundalk: Robins eliminated after heavy first-leg defeat

Newtown were knocked out from the Europa Conference League at the first hurdle after suffering a 5-0 aggregate defeat to full-time Dundalk.

After suffering a 4-0 loss at the first leg in Oriel Park, where three players were missing, Chris Hughes introduced George Hughes, Lifumpa Mwandwe and summer recruit Naim Arsan, but they were unable to secure at least a draw for the Robins.

Michael Duffy, who was on the score sheet last week, opening the scoring, struck a few minutes after the interval, undoing a positive first-half performance from the Mid Wales side.

The Robins had the lion’s share of the early possession with Dundalk content to sit back and protect their four-goal cushion, however, it was Dave Jones who was the busier of the two ‘keepers in the opening forty-five minutes.

With twenty minutes on the clock, the Newtown stopper was called into his first real action of the game when William Patching, looking to add to his screamer from the first leg, tried his luck for distance only for a deflection to take the sting off the ball and Jones make a comfortable save.

Seven minutes later, Jones was called into service again as Michael Duffy’s low curling shot from the edge of the box was comfortably dealt with. In the resulting counterattack, Newtown had their best chance of the first half with James Rowland firing wide from a tight angle in his second game since his transfer from Shrewsbury Town.

Daniel Kelly had a glorious chance for the visitors with five minutes remaining in the first period but lifted his shot from Duffy’s cross high over the bar.

Newtown did manage to register a shot on target in the dying moments of the half when Alexander Fletcher’s effort hit a Dundalk defender and looped up into the air before being collected by Albanian goalkeeper, Alessio Abibi.

It was to be the last action of the first half and the two sides went into the dressing room goalless at the break.

Just three minutes into the second half, Newtown had their hearts in their mouths. Dundalk were awarded a free-kick forty yards from goal when Kieran Mills-Evans took out Darragh Leahy. While seemingly waiting for an attacking target to present itself, Patrick McEleney spotted Dave Jones out of position and tried his luck, only to see the ball ricochet off the post with the ‘keeper scrambling.

A further three minutes later and the deadlock was finally broken. Newtown’s captain, Craig Williams, lined up a free-kick thirty yards from the Dundalk goal which was cleared by Faroe Islands international Sonni Nattestad. The Irishmen tore up the pitch with a three-on-two. Michael Duffy dribbled into the box before firing low past the advancing Dave Jones to put the tie well and truly out of reach.

Dundalk didn’t appear to be done yet when McEleney once again went for the spectacular, this time from the halfway line, but the ball sailed harmlessly wide of the Newtown goal.

On the hour mark, Abibi was called upon to make his first real save of the game as Fletcher’s effort could only be palmed into the path of a Newtown attacker. The rebound bounced agonisingly wide of the post, but the assistant referee’s flag would have disallowed any goal that had resulted.

Daniel Kelly had the change to double Dundalk’s lead on 67 minutes when one on one with Jones in the box, his chip landed just the wrong side of the post as he protested in vain to the referee about an alleged tug of his shirt.

With ten minutes to go the Robins forced two saves in quick succession from Abibi. First substitute Nicholas Rushton’s rising effort was tipped over the bar and, from the resulting corner, fellow sub-Jamie Breese was blocked at point-blank range.

Dundalk’s William Patching was shown a late yellow card when the referee adjudged that he had cynically dived in the penalty area to try and win a spot-kick on 85 minutes and Norwegian Ole Erik Midtskogen spurned the final chance of the game lifting a cross from South Korean Han Jeongwoo over the crossbar.

The final whistle sounded and the side that have qualified for the Europa League group stage twice in the last three season march on in Europe once again

Newtown now turn their attention to their Cymru Premier campaign that commences in a months time against The New Saints.

On a league basis, Wales’s coefficient remains bleak with the Cymru Premier set to drop to 52nd, unless Bala Town, Connah’s Quay, and The New Saints can provide positive results.

Newtown: David Jones, Craig Williams (C), Kieran Mills-Evans, Callum Roberts, Naim Arsan, Alex Fletcher, James Rowland (Nicholas Rushton 60’), George Hughes (Sean McAllister 86’), James Davies (Jordan Evans 72’), Aaron Williams, Lifumpa Mwandwe (Jamie Breese 72’).

Dundalk: Abibi Alessio, Darragh Leahy (Valentino Adedokun 56’), Andy Boyle(C), Sonni Nattestad, Raivis Jurkovskis, Michael Duffy (Wilfried Zahibo 56’), Samuel Stanton, William Patching, Patrick McEleney (Han Jeongwoo 77’), Daniel Kelly (Ryan O’Kane 69’), David McMillan (Ole Erik Midtskogen 69’)

(Featured Image: Will Cheshire)