We went out of the league cup at the first time of asking after missing a number of chances but fell ultimately short with some wasteful defending.
Afan Lido created some early half chances as we started brightly. Cwmbran striker Tom Meechan picked up the loose ball but was brought down in the box, He lined up the spot kick but debutant keeper Louie Cirotto guessed right and parried it clear. Lido responded well with some concerted pressure on the home defence. Taylor Evans went close with a long range effort but it deflected and rolled comfortably for Cwmbran keeper Larcombe to collect. Cwmbran took the lead on 15 minutes, a low cross was drilled powerfully across goal and was turned home from close range by Lewis Iles at the near post.
On 23 minutes Lido broke well through Samm Harrison following some excellent passing play through the midfield Jay Thomas picked up the ball and drove for goal from outside the box and it took a good save from Larcombe to keep it out. A minute later a great chance for Lido, Jay Thomas spotted the early run of Taylor Evans who bore down on goal but Larcombe spotted the danger and came out to smother well.
Cwmbran Celtic broke quickly from a Lido attack and scored their second. Meechan raced clear of the defence and lofted it over Cirotto to double the home side’s lead. On the half hour there was another chance for Lido as Harris was released free out wide. He tried a shot from distance which was held by Larcombe. On 38 minutes Lido went close again, Jay Thomas released Ross Daniels with a sumptuous through ball on the edge of the box. His low cross was met by Samm Harrison who, with Larcombe bearing down couldn’t guide it home and he narrowly missed the target. Three minutes later Cwmbran netted their third.
Brown intercepted a misplaced pass from out wide. His low cross is guided into the path of Iles who flicked on to Meechan at the far post for him to steer home. Just before half time there was another chance for the Lido after keeper Larcombe scuffed a clearance straight to Jay Thomas who with the keeper off his line, tried a speculative shot from distance which narrowly missed the crossbar
The half time discussion was about a tale of clinical finishing from Cwmbran Celtic and poor defending from Lido. Lido had had their fair share of opportunities but Tom Meechan had put the Lido defence to the sword..
The second half started badly with Taylor Evans going straight into the book for a foul on the halfway line but the side were probing around the home penalty area and forcing a few last ditch clearances. Ioan Evans laid the ball of to Samm Harrison
outside the box but his fizzing shot narrowly missed the far post. We then had a bad 5 minutes with Conor Harris booked for a late challenge and a minute later Jay Thomas for a foul. Worse was to come as Sam Harrison was given a straight red card for a challenge on the edge of the Cwmbran Celtic box. Lido were down to ten men for the remaining 25 minutes. A tall order in the searing temperatures.
Cwmbran Celtic rampaged through the Lido defence, the ball landing up at the feet of Iles who tried to lift the ball over Cirotto in goal but ended up missing the target from close range. Another booking for Lido Ioan Evans went into the book for a challenge.
Celtic should have made it four on 72 minutes but they hit the crossbar. A deep cross was met by the head of Iles who rattled the bar before the assistant adjudged him to have been offside
Celtic created another good chance with 10 minutes to go, Brown twisted and turned through the Lido defence before unleashing a low shot towards goal which only just missed the far post Just before full time Jay Thomas again went close for Lido, unleashing a shot from distance which beat the keeper but also narrowly evaded the net