Saturday August 1 2015
Newtown AFC - Cardiff City XI
JASON Oswell bagged a hat-trick as the Robins avoided a Europa League hangover in a convincing win over a Cardiff City XI.
The hosts took the lead before first half goals from Gareth Partridge and Craig Williams gave the Robins a half time lead.
In the second half the Robins took the game away from Jarred Harvey’s men with three goals from Oswell, a header from Gavin Cadwallader and a late Neil Mitchell goal. The Robins threatened first as a ball over the top was flicked out by Mitchell and Partridge took the ball down and saw his volley well saved by the Bluebirds stopper.
However on 15 minutes the hosts were caught in possession and Cardiff broke to open the deadlock. A sweeping move saw the ball pulled back and the visiting striker lashed the ball beyond Dave Jones. Jones was called upon on numerous occasions in the first period but was equal to a host of long range strikes from the Cardiff frontmen.
But the Robins were also looking good going forward, with Kieran Mills-Evans heading straight at the Bluebirds goalkeeper from a dangerous Jamie Price corner. And on 25 minutes the Robins capitalised on a defensive mix up at the back to square the game. Partridge reacted quickest and rolled the ball underneath the dive of the goalkeeper to level the score. And the Robins nearly took the lead as Sean Evans saw the keeper off his line and went to lift it over him, but the ball flew inches wide.
Evans was again in the thick of the action as he headed wide from a Price corner before Newtown took the lead in fantastic fashion on the half time mark. Williams was back to his best as he curled a free kick into the top corner leaving the Cardiff keeper grasping at air to give his side a half time lead.
Cardiff fired out of the traps with the number 7 firing the ball inches wide of the post. However the Robins increased their lead shortly after the break, and Evans was involved in the move again. He looped the ball to the back post and Harris took a touch, his shot cannoned off the woodwork however Oswell was jolly on the spot to tap it home.
Oswell was close soon after as he nearly chipped the goalkeeper, but with 25 minutes left Cadwallader got in on the act to make it 4-1. Price whipped in another inch perfect corner and Cadwallader rose the highest in a packed penalty area to nod into the corner.
Midfielder Price came close soon as he hit the post before a Harris shot was parried by the goalkeeper and Boundford fired wide from yards out. Cardiff came back into the game though, striking the bar before a free kick beat Jack Perry to pull one back. However the Robins continued to be dominant going forward and Oswell fired home twice to give his side a comfortable lead.
Partridge hung up a long cross for Oswell to nod back across goal and in, and Partridge again supplied for the striker to bullet a header home with moments to go. The Robins were dominant and they added another, as Boundford cut it back for Mitchell to sweep in the seventh.
It was a perfect way to come back after the European adventure and next up it is Guilsfield on Tuesday evening.
http://www.newtownafc.co.uk/news/goal-r ... ty-xi.html