Date Competition Opposition Venue Result Scorers 22.08 LoW Rhayader Town A 2-0 Morrison 2 29.08 LoW Total Network Solutions H 0-0 01.09 FAWgpC. Cwmbran Town H 0-1 08.09 LoW Caernarfon Town H 1-1 Wickham 12.09 LoW Haverfordwest County A 0-2 14.09 FAWgpC. Inter Cabletel H 2-1 Comerford, Yates 19.09 LoW Bangor City A 3-2 Reynolds, Roberts, Clifford 22.09 GLC1 Holywell Town A 1-0 Clifford 25.09 LoW Holywell Town H 4-0 Yates, Clifford, Ruscoe, Ward 03.10 LoW Rhyl A 3-3 Wickham, Yates, Ruscoe 17.10 LoW Bangor City H 3-1 Wickham, Clifford, Comerford 31.10 LoW Carmarthen Town H 0-0 07.11 LoW Aberystwyth Town A 0-5 10.11 GLC2 Bangor City A 0-5 14.11 LoW Afan Lido H 4-0 18.11 FAWgpC. Cwmbran Town A 0-6 21.11 WC3 Connah's Quay Nomads A 2-2 Ward 2 24.11 WC3r Connah's Quay Nomads H 0-1 28.11 LoW Inter Cabletel H 1-3 Roberts 05.12 LoW Cwmbran Town H 0-0 08.12 FAWgpC. Connah's Quay Nomads H 2-1 Russell, Ruscoe 12.12 LoW Conwy United A 0-1 15.12 FAWgpC. Inter Cabletel A 1-0 Russell 26.12 LoW Caersws H 4-0 Ward 3, Yates 02.01 LoW Rhayader Town H 1-0 Ward 09.01 LoW Total Network Sol. A 1-1 Ward 16.01 LoW Haverfordwest Co. H 1-1 Ward 18.01 FAWgpC. Connah's Quay Nomads A 2-1 Roberts, Yates 30.01 LoW Holywell Town A 3-0 Ward 2, Wickham 06.02 LoW Rhyl H 2-1 Ruscoe, Taylor 23.02 FAWqf Wrexham H 0-1 27.02 LoW Barry Town H 0-0Newtown's season began back in July, when the mid-Walian Robins earnt a highly credible goalless draw at home to Poles, Wisla Krakow, in the UEFA Cup. Unfortunately, logistical problems in the away trip left the Welsh side at a disadvantage, and despite a brave half-hour where the home side were kept at bay, Newtown eventually went out. However, the quality of their opposition can be seen in their 7-2 aggregate hammering of Turks, Trabzonspor, and their narrow defeat at the hands of Italians, Parma. Wisla currently lead the Polish league, but have been banned from European competition for a year following crowd disturbances in the home leg against the Italians.
Another mid-Walian derby also gave Newtown a point, as they drew 0-0 with Total Network Solutions at Latham Park.
That was followed by LoW defeat at Haverfordwest, though, and the Robins were beaten 2-0 by the Bluebirds.
The month took a turn for the better, though, with the visit of Inter Cabletel to Latham Park for a Premier Cup match. Mark Comerford gave Newtown the lead and Jason Yates scored the other in a 2-1 victory.
Then, away at Bangor City, Newtown came from a goal behind to win 3-2. Colin Reynolds scored the first, with Roberts and Steve Clifford also finding the net.
Clifford found the net three days later, as well, in a 1-0 away win at Holywell in the Gilbert League Cup. Newtown entertained Holywell at Latham Park in the LoW a few days later, and comfortably trounced them 4-0. There were four different goalscorers, with Yates, Clifford, Ruscoe and Ward all getting on the scoresheet.
They achieved a better result against Bangor City, though, with a rearranged LoW game giving Newtown a 3-1 win. Wickham scored again, with further goals being added by Comerford and Clifford.
That was followed by a disappointing spell, beginning at the end of October. The visit to Barry ws postponed as a result of the weather, and that was followed by a goalless draw at home to Carmarthen Town.
The sun shone temporarily with a 4-0 home win over Afan Lido in the LoW, with Yates scoring twice and Griffiths and Ward also scoring, but was behind the clouds for a visit to Cwmbran Town in the Premier Cup. At Cwmbran Stadium, they were thrashed 6-0.
At Connah's Quay Nomads, Newtown forced a replay in the Welsh Cup Third Round, with Nicky Ward scoring twice. However, back at Latham Park, Newtown fell sucker-punch to an early goal and went out 1-0.
The disappointing month continued with a 3-1 home defeat to Inter Cabletel. Roberts scored Newtown's consolation goal.
However, a trip to Conwy saw another defeat, although only by a 1-0 margin. That was the same margin when they journeyed to Cardiff for a Premier Cup match against Inter Cabletel. This time, though, they won, with Damon Russell scoring the only goal of the game.
Christmas was then celebrated in style at Latham Park, with Newtown beating Caersws 4-0 on Boxing Day. Nicky Ward upped his position in the League of Wales goalscoring charts, with a hat-trick against the village side. Jason Yates added the final goal.
Newtown clinched second place in their Premier Cup group with a 2-1 away win at Connah's Quay Nomads. The match was played at Rhyl because of problems with Connah's Quay's Deeside Stadium ground, but it made no difference to Newtown with Roberts and Yates scoring the goals.
Newtown returned to League of Wales action a fortnight later at Holywell, where they won 3-0. Ward scored twice and Wickham the other. It was at a cost, though, with Colin Reynolds being seriously injured on a difficult pitch.
Having been knocked out of the Welsh Cup, Newtown played a Floodlit Cup match at home to Aberystwyth, which the Robins comfortably won 4-0, with goals from Ward, Ruscoe, Roberts and Thomas.
They then had a free week, before meeting Wrexham in the Premier Cup quarter-final and Barry Town in the League of Wales. Against Wrexham, Newtown were deperately unlucky, with Nicky Ward hitting the bar from the penalty spot, and Steve Clifford firing at the keeper in the final minute. The Robins lost a credible 1-0.
However, in the League of Wales game they picked up a point at home to Barry, in a 0-0 draw.
the Yellow Dragon.
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This page edited by the Yellow Dragon, 1999.
This article first published in the Barry Town Matchday Magazine, v Newtown, League of Wales, 13.03.1999
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