Reserves fall to stoppage-time winner in cup opener

Rogerstone AFC Reserves 2–1 Cwmbran Celtic Reserves · Gwent Premier Combination Cup, Round 1 · Friday 7 August

The Men’s Reserves went out of the Gwent Premier Combination Cup at the first round, beaten by a goal three minutes into stoppage time at Rogerstone Fugitives Stadium.

Rogerstone led inside seven minutes through Alexander Pritchard, set up by Robert Davies, and Celtic spent the next hour chasing the tie. Jacob Pritchard reshuffled at the break and after — Evan Harvey on for Joe Barber on 52, then a triple change on 57 that brought on Tobias Williams-Dunne, Noah Willis and Daniel Madge.

It worked. Two minutes later Madge levelled, finishing a Williams-Dunne pass to make it 1–1 with half an hour to play, and a replay looked the likeliest outcome. Instead, in the 93rd minute, Luc Payne turned in Lloyd Saunders’s ball to send Rogerstone through.

Hard on a side that had changed the game with its substitutions and got itself level. Ethan Hooper captained, Samuel Walsh started in goal, and referee Stephen Richards had no cards to give all evening.

Next up: Croesyceiliog away, Saturday 15 August, 2:30pm.