The long trip west is never an easy away day and so it proved today although unfortunately for the Steelmen it was a similar story to the last few games , a decent and controlled first half followed by a virtual no show in the second .
With the squad still stretched to its limits only two substitutes were fit and the other two really just put a kit on in case of dire emergencies !!
Matt Smith came into the centre of midfield along with Matt Pimm and Denis Spiteri was a late withdrawal. Nicky Church made his debut in goal after his midweek transfer.
Playing five across the midfield seemed to work for the visitors and their normal crisp passing game on a slick surface at times was very pleasing on the eye . The only negative from the first half performance was that Llanwern created five good scoring chances and failed to score from any of them , Matt Currie had a shot cleared off the line but should have scored , Richie Shire dragged to shots wide , a chance was blocked on the line and rebounded back to the keeper and Leighton Golledge saw his header from a Sully cross fingertipped around the far post !!! for all these chances the writing was certainly on the wall when Golledge was alledged to have handled in the box when blocking a cross ( a very contentious decision ) ad the referee pointed to the spot . New boy Nicky Church made a statement on his debut by diving full stretch to his left and pushing the ball away.

HT 0-0

As was the story verses Llwydcoed and UWIC in previous games the Steelemen conceded two goal in the first 15 minutes of the second half , The unfortunate Matt Smith allowing a cross from the left and Luke Palmer losing his marker who steered a good header past church for the first and within four minutes Smiths wayward pass allowed a free run on goal which again was despatched . It was an uphill struggle from here with Manager Owen unable to really change anything from the bench with little in the way of options . Llanwern got a lifeline in the 67th minute when again a dubious penalty was given with a defender penalised for handball and Marcus Power stepped up to make it 10 in 10 games and 2-1 .
It was huff and puff time without really getting the passing game going again but Currie was through with three minutes to go with a sight on goal but he snatched at his shot and Sully's strike from the edge of the box was well held by the keeper . The whistle was met by loud screams from the home side who probably deserved the points after a poor second half show from Llanwern. There can be no excuses the quality on the park should have been enough to deal with Emlyn and if the fiirst half performance was mirrored in the second half the game would have been a formality .

FT Newcastle Emlyn 2-1 Llanwern AFC