7.30pm 15 December 2023
Welsh Amateur Trophy, Fifth Round
AFC Llwydcoed 1 Newport City 4 (att 50)
I'm yet to visit AFC Llwydcoed's regular home ground, but while that's undergoing development work they're playing this season's home games at the Ron Jones Stadium in nearby Aberdare.
Even better, from a groundhopping perspective, they're staging some fixtures on Friday nights. This date was originally scheduled for a home league game, but that was postponed to make way for a tie in the last 32 of the of FA of Wales's Amateur Trophy.
Both AFC Llwydcoed and Newport City, who were still called Llanwern the last time I saw them, are in Wales's third tier Ardal leagues. The home side are struggling in the south west division, while the Gwent side are having a better time in the south east.
A well-worked goal gave the hosts a 15th minute lead, but Newport hit back to equalise within five minutes. By half time there had been no more goals and there seemed little between the sides.
But Newport City stepped up a gear after the break. They came close to going ahead in the opening moments, and it didn't take them long before they did take the lead.
After that they looked much the better side, and two further goals underlined their superiority. They could easily have scored more.
The Ron Jones Stadium is a decent venue, and one that has occasionally staged football previously. It's primarily an athletics stadium, which means the pitch does feel a little distant across the track.
There's a good-sized seated stand, although it's located for spectators who want to see the climax of a hundred metre sprint rather than a football match.
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