Llanelli Town 5-0 Newport County: Reds put young Exiles to the sword in a five-star display
Llanelli Town AFC 5-0 Newport County AFC in the Nathaniel MG Cup at Stebonheath Park on the 16th July 2021. Credit: Aled Roberts/YCPD
Experience prevailed as Llanelli Town defeated a young Newport County side 5-0 at Stebonheath Park to move into the next round of the Nathaniel MG Cup.
Three goals in a six-minute bonanza from Kyle Copp, Miles John, and Lewis Reed gave the Reds a commanding first-half lead. A penalty from Zac Brown and a deserved goal for Gavin Jones added to a perfect evening for the Cymru South side.
Newport meanwhile, made up of a team of mainly of Under-18 players saw Ryan Hillier miss a penalty, as well as a red card for Iestyn Evans.
The early stages of the match were very contested with Newport looking the stronger side of the two in the first 10 minutes.
Newport had a chance from Graham as his downwards header was collected by Dimonkene, from a Harrison Bright cross.
Llanelli were dealt a blow as Evan Ovendale rushed out and collided with Michael Morgan with the keeper receiving a yellow due to the incident.
Kyle Copp came on from the bench to replace Morgan following the incident.
The game-changing moment of the match came when a free-kick on the left side of the pitch was whipped in by Brown and Copp slotted it in from close range to give the hosts the lead.
A chance by Samuel Parsons from outside the box aiming towards the bottom left corner was saved well by Ovendale to go out for a corner.
From the resulting corner, clearance was given straight to John as he rifled his shot which deflected into the top left corner.
To cap off the flurry of quick goals Lewis Reed struck home a shot just inside the box past the keepers right.
To start off the second half with a great save from Dimonekene prevented Newport County from getting a goal back.
Ethan Morgan, who was a second-half substitute had a dipping shot destined to go in to be palmed away by the keeper.
A misplaced corner from Newport at one end gave a counterattack for Llanelli down the other and they earned a penalty from it. Jones was fouled as Zak Brown stepped up and sent Ovendale the wrong way giving the hosts a four-nil lead.
Andy Legg’s side got their fifth goal as Zak Brown delivered a pass over the top as Gavin Jones got in behind the Exiles defense to slot the ball into the bottom right corner.
To make matters worse, Iestyn Evans was sent off following a second yellow, the second yellow for a foul on Jones on the right side of the pitch.
In the last few minutes of the game, Newport got a penalty, Jack Karadogan was brought down as a clip on the back of his leg brought him down.
Hillier stepped up and struck it to the right but Exauce Dimonekene was there to stop a consolation goal for Danny Elliot’s side.
The last chance of the game went to Llanelli when Gavin Jones tried the spectacular with an overhead kick attempt which goes over the bar.
Llanelli Town: Exauce Dimonekene GK, Miles John, Zac Brown, Christopher Thomas, Robert Thomas, Samuel Parsons, Gavin Jones, Jordan Davies (C), Lewis Reed (Ricky Kerr, 66), Michael Morgan (Kyle Copp,17), Nathan Logan (Dylan Williams, 55)
Goals: Kyle Copp 19, Miles John 23, Lewis Reed 25, Zac Brown p 61, Gavin Jones 69′
Newport County: Evan Ovendale, Harrison Bright, Mallachi Graham, Evan Cadwallader (Kyle Hancock, 67), Joe Woodiwiss (C) (Ethan Morgan, 45), Iestyn Evans, Aneurin Livermore, Jack Karadogan, Ryan Hillier, Zack Maher, Jonah Williams (Thomas Stokes, 69)
Yellow Cards: Iestyn Evans: 14, 74
Red Card: Iestyn Evans 74
