Newport City FC - 2

Abergavenny Town - 1

ABERGAVENNY Town travelled to Newport Stadium seeking revenge for their shock 2-3 defeat to basement boys City at Pen-y-Pound last September.

The opening exchanges were fairly even, but the game sparked into life for Town on the half hour when debutant Alex Bonthron headed just over and then Town forced two saves from City’s goalkeeper Adam Webb in the space of ten seconds.

This pressure told, and Bonthron got his debut goal on 32 minutes to give Town some reward for their efforts.

Town continued to press, spurning several good chances in the process, but it was City who scored next with a low angled drive from Callum Smith.

In the second half City adapted well to the sticky Newport Stadium pitch, which had only just survived a pitch inspection 45 minutes before kick off, and ten minutes in, had Town’s defence exposed but failed to capitalise, firing wide.

Moments later Town’s Tom Indge had to be alert to deny them. At the other end Town’s Lewis Jones sent a shot whistling over the bar when the ball fell to him from a corner.

City, boosted by new signings, certainly didn’t look like a relegation-doomed club and took full advantage of Town’s defensive blunder on 65 minutes when Callum Smith got his second, and winning, goal.

As the game drifted towards the final whistle Town seemed to run out of ideas, leaving Newport City to claim only their third victory of the season.

Town will need to improve ahead of Saturday’s visit to Pen-y-Pound by second placed Briton Ferry Llansawel (2.00pm).

Meanwhile back at Pen-y-Pound, Town’s reserve side, who travel to Ton Pentre on Saturday, saw their fixture with Bridgend Street postponed due to a waterlogged pitch

Town v Newport City: 1 Tom Indge. 2 Tom Rose (Ross Oakley (45). 3 Jac Evans. 4 Dafydd Brewer. 5 Declan Bull. 6 Lewis Jones. 7 Nathan Davies. 8 Sean Feeley (Lewis Hitchcock 53). 9 Dane Griffiths.10 Alex Bonthron.

11 Luke Lewis (Aaron Norman 65).

Town confirm Craig Norman has left them to join Evo Stick Southern Premier League outfit, Cinderford Town.

Club chairman Rob Francis commented, “We will certainly miss Craig who has been outstanding for us, but we understand he wants to play at the highest level possible.

“He leaves with our very best wishes and thanks for what he has done for the Town, and before this with Govilon AFC.”