With only one week since our last meeting with neighbours YMCA it was not ideal preparation to be without Saturdays centre halves Carl Baugh and Mike Binning, but with such a big squad ideal replacements can normally step up. Mike Aviss and Leighton Golledge came in to replace them with Matt Currie, James Cairns and Steve Perszewski also coming into the eleven. Luke Fernquest carrying a slight knock dropped down to the bench.

On a damp night and on a superb playing surface, Llanwern dominated from the whistle. On 20 minutes a long ball from the back saw an excellent flick-on from Mike Vaux allowed Marcus Power to outpace the defence and coolly slot home from 15 yards. 6 minutes later a dazzling run and super cross from Matt Currie saw Steve Perszewski slide in to the 6 yard box to meet the cross first time, but a superb save from the YM keeper prevented the score being 2-0. Perszewski should have scored on 41 minutes when a free strike from 12 yards narrowly went wide. Goal keeper James Cairns was untroubled for the first half.

HT Llanwern 1 - 0 Newport YMCA

Straight from the kick off Llanwern continued their dominance and the lively Mike Vaux picked up the ball on half way and ran at the YM central defenders leaving them in his wake before unleashing an unstoppable shot from 18 yards which flew into the top corner for
2-0.

Matthew Pimm replaced Denis Spiteri on 54 minutes. The midfield duo of Shire and Hooper controlled the game into the closing period. Luke Palmer and Danny Penn replaced Mattie Smith and Steve Perszewski. Live wire left winger Matt Currie attacked the YM defence and strode into the box on 74 minutes and was up-ended and gave the referree no choice but to the penalty spot. Busy striker Marcus Power took the spot kick and emphatically sent the keeper the wrong way for a deserved 3-0 score line. Captain Ritchie Shire was a virtual spectator the last 15 minutes due to cramp but he still earned a deserved man of the match award. The only negative for Llanwern on the night was from a corner, the last touch of the game, saw the ball hit the Llanwern cross bar and bounce on the line, but contentiously the referee awarded the goal.

FT Llanwern 3 - 1 Newport YMCA

Its another derby this saturday against Croesy but as is the stopstart to the season , Baugh and Binning return but Perszewski and Currie are unavailable !!!

ONWARDS AND UPWARDS !