After weeks of floods and postponements due to the weather, Newtown played their first match in over a month as they welcomed Bere Alston United to Newton St Cyres in the constant drizzle. The pitch looked great considering all the rain although it soon started to cut up once the game had begun.

The hosts started the game the stronger side and had an early chance to take the lead after some quality football ended with the ball finding the feet of Rio Turl who lobbed the visiting keeper Ryelee Deignan but Turl could only watch as his effort went over the bar. Turl came close again midway through the first half as some great footwork on the edge of the box ended with a shot over the bar.

The game really began to open up with both teams having plenty of attacking play but the chances in front of the goal were limited. With the game flowing from end to end, both teams just lacked that final bit of quality.

As the first half ticked over the half an hour mark the deadlock was finally broken as the visitors took the lead. Following a foul on the edge of the box the referee played advantage with the ball finding Gino Garside who managed to stay on his feet following another tackle before firing past home keeper Frankie Follett.

As the first half drew to a close both teams had their chances but as the pitch was starting to get heavier the final bit of quality was lacking. As the whistle blew for half time, this gave both sides the chance to regroup and look at what to change on the pitch.

Whatever was said in the away changing room seemed to have it’s desired effect as the visitors came out strong in the second half and almost doubled their lead early on when Soul Pengelly ran towards goal from his own half dodging tackles but could only watch as his effort at the end was saved well by the Newtown stopper.

Follett, in goal for Newtown, had his work cut out in the second half as Bere Alston came out firing. As the match reached the hour mark the visitors came close again when a brilliant ball over the top found Vincent Wright-Harper Innis but he would’ve been disappointed as his shot was straight at the home custodian.

The lead was doubled moments later from a Bere Alston corner as a low delivery into the box was heading straight towards a defender at the near post but the ball went through his legs and to the feet of Tyler Copp who flicked in from close range.

Controversy followed before the game could restart following the goal as Bere Alston forward Vincent Wright-Harper Innis received his marching orders. After picking up a yellow card for diving minutes earlier, Innis was shown his second yellow card for dissent towards the referee and then was arguing with supporters refusing to leave the pitch resulting in teammates having to encourage him to head to the changing rooms.

Two goals up and a man light, many sides would’ve changed their style of play to ensure they saw out the fixture but Bere Alston had other ideas and added a third minutes later to almost certainly ensure the points would be heading back home. As Newtown had thrown players forward the visitors caught them on the counter attack and Pengelly was released through on goal before calmly slotting the ball under Follett and into the back of the net.

With twenty minutes of the match remaining, Newtown desperately looked for a way back into the game as they peppered the visitors goal but lacked the final quality as they looked for a goal. The hosts had a golden chance when Rio Turl got on the end of a long ball from keeper Follett but as he rounded the visiting keeper he could only fire over the bar with the whole goal to aim for.  

The visitors hung on for a clean sheet and returned home with all three points, as for Newtown they continue the search for their first points in 2026.

Newtown team: Frankie Follett, James Blain, Zach Tait, Ryan Finnimore, Ollie Evans, Alfie Murray, Rio Turl, Dan Gill, Ben Howard, Levi Burt, Cody Cox

Subs: Jake Ranger, John Smith, Lewis Piper

Bere Alston United team: Ryelee Deignan, Josh Monk, Bailee Deignan, Ben Clark, Tyler Copp, Charlie Phipps, Gino Garside, Harry Eaton, Vincent Wright-Harper Innis, Callum Mitchell, Soul Pengelly

Subs: Owen Jones, Darren Phillips, Ryan Moorhead, William Westlake