NEWFA Qualify for Welsh Regions Cup Final.

A still floodlit evening at the impressive Belle Vue stadium greeted match day 3 of the Regions Cup Group stage. NEWFA were in the knowledge that a point would ensure qualification to the next stage.

The opening exchanges were closely contested with the Coast pumping the ball in with some deep crosses that were well dealt with by keeper Ricky Bennett, whilst going forward NEWFA played through the channels, how ever no clear chances had been created.

Karl Lloyd worked his trickery on the wing that resulted in the first NEWFA corner and from the resulting corner NEWFA had the ball in the back of the net but unfortunately referee Rob Jenkins disallowed this for a foul on the goalkeeper.

On 8 minutes NEWFA went close again shaving the post. This resulted from a driving run from Chad Shelbourne who played the ball out to Kyle Harte. He struck a low drive which was only inches away. NEWFA continued to press and soon after gained another corner that Karl Lloyd floated in for Sean Jones to head home. A real positive start for NEWFA who needed to maintain the tempo.

23 minutes saw nwcfa pushing on resulting in NEWFA clearing off the line and again the NEWFA goalkeeper showed his commanding presence clearing with a decent punch. Whilst only 2 minutes later NEWFA worked the ball down the left and again this was headed home by Nick Jones.

After 25 minutes the coast pushed on and it was clear to see that this was a closer game than the 0-2 score line. The game was stretched and the NEWFA front two were linking up well together, whilst equally Ricky Bennett acted as a sweeper to tidy up another promising Coast attack.

NEWFA were indebted to the keeper again as he bravely spread himself at the strikers feet and snuffed out another dangerous opportunity for the home side. Following this up he made another save from a Coast free kick. In the last ten minutes the Coast were in the ascendancy and it was NEWFA’S turn to dig in and hold out till half time. Only seconds later from a Jamie Foukes cross a neat flick from Anthony Weaver saw the ball just fly over the cross bar.

The half time whistle sounded and NEWFA took a 2-0 lead into half time and we're looking to consolidate this position. Half time nwcfa 0 NEWFA 2.

The second half started very similar to the first with both teams trying to break the defences. Nwcfa had a chance on 50 minutes following a mistake in the NEWFA defence but fortunately for the away side the ball was blasted over the bar. NEWFA started the second half slackly and again gifted the home side a great chance when denying a promising attack saw the first caution of the game for Nick Jones. Fortunately the free kick was floated into a waiting keeper’s arms.

55 minutes saw some superb defending from the home side when Karl Lloyd whipped in a lethal cross that the defender just beat Harte to to deny a third goal. On the hour NEWFA made a change with Sam Fryer replacing Jack Richards. Still both teams were creating chances but it was Chad Shelbourne who was the commanding figure in midfield that was beginning to take charge.

The Coast gained a corner mid way through the second half but the NEWFA defence were organised and cleared this well. This created the opportunity to break up the field and resulted in Karl Lloyd being brought down and a penalty awarded. Prior to the penalty Terry Nicolas replaced Kyle Harte whilst skipper Sean Jones slotted the spot kick away to make the lead that little more comfortable.

The pace of the game had relented a little and the third goal did leave the Coast looking a little deflated. Saying this NEWFA did not give up and continued to press. This resulted in a sweeping move between Nick Jones, Karl Lloyd and Anthony Weaver moving the ball across the pitch at pace but the final pass just went astray.

With thirteen minutes to go NEWFA switched off and after a strong performance the away goalkeeper had a rush of blood and steamed aimlessly out of his goal allowing Sean Morris netted for the Coast. This lifted the atmosphere in the ground and NEWFA realised that they had to up the performance again. The game was into the last 10 minutes and there was a clear pattern of play with the coast trying to push on to close the arrears further whilst NEWFA were trying to catch the home team on the break.

NEWFA had recognised that the main priority was now to see the game out and the shape had changed to a more defensive system. Relief occurred as a deflected shot just whistled past the NEWFA post and prior to the corner NEWFA made their third and final change seeing Anthony Weaver replaced by Mike Whales. The tactical switch was partly to slow the game further also to stop any more attacks from the home side.

Referee Rob Jenkins brought the game to an end and the result was nwcfa 1 NEWFA 3. The final group match is at Flint on March the 9th, but NEWFA have now qualified for the final at Newtown v South Wales FA. This match is scheduled to be played mid to the end of April, with the winning team becoming champions representing Wales in San Marino.

Full time score nwcfa 1 NEWFA 3

NEWFA side, Bennett,Foulkes,Colecliffe, Jones(Sean), Richards, Jones (Nick), Weaver ,Shelbourne , Hewitt, Harte, Lloyd.

Subs Fryer replaced Richards, Nicolas replaced Harte and Whales replaced Weaver.
Subs not used Woodward and Davies.

NEWFA goal scorers, Sean Jones (9) and (68) (penalty) and Nick Jones (25).