Celts knocked out of the Welsh Cup by late Newport Corinthians double

Two goals in two minutes from Jayden Ward ended Cwmbran Celtic’s Welsh Cup run at the Motazone Arena on Saturday, an Arthur Furness header late on not quite enough.

Cwmbran Celtic’s Welsh Cup run is over at the Second Qualifying Round, ended by two Newport Corinthians goals in the space of two minutes on a Saturday afternoon that had given almost nothing away.

A crowd of 105 at the Motazone Arena watched a tie that stayed goalless through the first half and stayed that way until a quarter of an hour from time. Then Jayden Ward stepped up on 78 minutes and scored from the penalty spot, and by the 80th he had his second and Corinthians had the tie.

To the credit of Sam Lewis and Stephen Muir’s side, they did not let it end there. Arthur Furness pulled one back on 86, finishing a Munya Mabwe pass, and the closing minutes were played out with Celtic pushing for the goal that would have forced a replay. It would not come.

Terry Obeng captained the side. Jamie Pring started in goal and was replaced by Lewis Watkins just after the hour mark, with Daniel Camaj coming on for Rhys Thomas on 62. Referee Jason Lewis showed a single card all afternoon, to Newport’s Luc Noble on 65.

Cwmbran Celtic: Jamie Pring, Arthur Furness, Kian Saunders, Charlie Donovan, Terry Obeng (c), Louis Cochrane, Cameron Dean, Jonathan Invernizzi, Rhys Thomas, Finlay Wood, Munya Mabwe.
Substitutes: Lewis Watkins, Daniel Camaj, Elliott Hewings, Joe Barber, Cameron Jenkins, Gabriel Howells.

FAW Welsh Cup, Second Qualifying Round
Cwmbran Celtic 1–2 Newport Corinthians
Saturday 22 August 2026, 2:00pm · The Motazone Arena, Cwmbran · Att: 105
Ward 78 (pen), 80; Furness 86

Full line-ups, the goal timeline and the season’s numbers are in the match centre.

Newport Corinthians return to the Motazone on 19 September, this time for league points.

Thanks to everyone who came down.