
Callum Buckle
10 Jan 2025
The Dragons suffered their first defeat since October as they are beaten 2-0 by Newport City.
Danny Hillman gave his side the lead just five minutes into the second half, as he rose well and headed in a corner from Richard Noyes. Louis Phillips doubled the Steelmen’s advantage in the 68th minute with a finish into the bottom right corner, after a good run by Jordan Cotterill.
The away side started the game brightly as Phillips made a darting run to the byline before delivering to the back post, but fortunately Cotterill couldn’t convert for Newport.
Majority of the first half was a scrappy one, as tempers flared. Both sides lacked the quality in the final third to finish the chances they had created.
The Dragons had themselves a few chances in the first half and looked dangerous. There was also a penalty shout as half time approached. Cole Mace drove into the box off the left hand side and went to ground, however it was waved away by referee Tegid Richards.
Things went from bad to worse for the Dragons, as captain Jarrad Wright was shown a second yellow card when challenging for a header with 15 minutes to play.
Newport could have had another goal late on. Phillips picked up the ball around the halfway line and charged to the byline before squaring it to former Dragons Ollie Young, but fortunately he couldn’t apply the finishing touch as he fired over from a few yards out.
United will look to go again as they take on Baglan Dragons back at the USW Sport Park.
Attendance: 137