This is a new age grade competition for us and the fixture was not terribly well publicised.
We got through tonight’s tie with Newport 3-2 under the lights at Landore, but it was something of a scruffy battle after a confident start.
The team was a mixture of qualifying U18 and U16 players, all of whom had U18 experience with the exception of new scholar goalkeeper Isaac Dudding.
Newport featured our former age grade international Harrison Pugh, who skippered his side from central midfield.
We started 4-5-1 and changed to 4-4-2 in the 2nd half with Kai Rhodes moving up alongside centre forward Harvey Gray. Ben Phillips, playing his first competitive fixture since January, started in an unusually high attacking midfield position and impressed in a half an hour return outing.
Isaac Dudding; Billy Clarke, Brogan Popham (captain), Wahab Ojetero (s – Kaven Bloniarczyk 63m), Caio Ifans (s – Carter Heywood 46m); Alex Godfrey, Milo Robinson, Ben Phillips (s- Alfie Jones 31m), Kai Rhodes, Elis Thomas (s – Bobo Evans 70m); Harvey Gray.
Unused sub: Tom Wright (G/K).
We looked the far more comfortable side initially, quickly going ahead through Harvey Gray on 9 minutes. A couple of minutes later new boy Wahab Ojetero was denied by a desperate stop from the Newport keeper. Our dominance was emphasised by a further goal on 18 minutes – Ben Phillips’s bundled effort finding its way over the line with a deflection off County’s centre half Tomos Lloyd, another former Swans academy player.
Kai Rhodes was causing the visitors a lot of trouble on the flanks and it was no surprise when we went 3 up after Caio Ifans’s long throw wasn’t cleared and Brogan Popham was able to blast home.
At this point, it looked as though we’d cruise to a convincing win. Two moments of defensive madness – a handball in the area and an underhit backpass – allowed Newport to pull back to within a goal deficit immediately before half-time. This set the tone for a difficult 2nd half.
Caio Ifans, also making his first start after injury, was booked immediately before and subsequently replaced at half-time, Carter Heywood taking up the right back role and Billy Clarke switching to the left.
Newport’s tails were up and although we continued to create chances the visitors looked far more competitive in winning possession and mounting threatening breaks. Ojetero – who’s clearly working his way to full match fitness – escaped with a tight challenge inside our own area on Bahumaid. Shortly after, Dudding kept out a long range effort from the same Newport winger.
With around a quarter of an hour to go, we were struggling to compete in midfield and an equaliser looked inevitable. Barrett blazed over after a miskick put him clear. A couple of corners put us under further pressure as time ticked away, but the Swans defence – ably led by Popham – kept the goal intact.
Kai Rhodes passed up a golden opportunity to seal the game in the final stages, however he was always our most potent threat. Billy Clarke gave a tenacious and intelligent evening. Isaac Dudding had no chance with either goal and otherwise looked sound.
We just about crept over the line, Newport revealing their frustrations with a straight red for Osborne deep into added time. Our youngsters will have more complete evenings, but they got the desired result. Newport fought hard and gave a really good account of themselves.
Goalscoring: Harvey Gray 1-0 (9m), Ben Phillips 2-0 (18m), Brogan Popham 3-0 (41m), Cameron Egan (penalty) 3-1 (44m), Cameron Egan 3-2 (45+1m).