Cwmbran Celtic 2–4 New Inn FC — Match Report

Celtic went into this Torfaen derby game in good spirits after their fine win last week against Cwmbran Town but fair play to New Inn. The Ardal League South East newcomers surprised their hosts with striker Alex Berrow, returning to the Pontypool club after a season away at Blaenavon Blues, scoring a hat-trick and making his tally for the season 6 goals.

Celtic took the lead in the 7th minute when Rudi Griffiths met Finlay Wood’s cross from wide out on the left to firmly head the ball home. For the visitors, Baker hit a free kick wide and Tutton-Coff also shot wide. In the 33rd minute New Inn equalised. Berrow forced his way down the by-line and after a free-for-all scramble in the Celtic 6-yard box the ball fell at Berrow’s feet and he stroked the ball home from point blank range. Berrow scored a second on 41 minutes tapping a cross from the right by ex-Celtic Academy player Kobi Preston-Watkins into the net and 2 minutes later Berrow started a move from midfield and then raced into the 6-yard box unmarked to score his hat-trick goal from a cross by Joel Richards. For Celtic, Wood shot wide shortly before the break.

It was stalemate in the third quarter of the game until, on 71 minutes, Celtic reduced the arrears when Kian Saunders headed Finlay Wood’s free kick into the net for his first Celtic goal. Griffiths headed wide when well-placed in front of the New Inn goal and Baker curled a shot just wide of the far post.

In the 82nd minute a long ball out of defence was passed back to keeper Manson by Joel Richards but he played the ball short allowing Celtic substitute Daniel Camaj to flip the ball past the on-rushing keeper, who did enough to distract Camaj and the ball bounced to safety. In the 87th minute Brad Baker drove forward and exchanged passes with Ben Williams before sliding the ball into the net to make the game safe for New Inn.

Celtic gave 1st team debuts to substitutes Daniel Camaj and teenagers Charlie Donovan and Ollie Walters. The game attracted another good attendance of 220. Looking at the league table, it is no surprise that the early front-runners are Chepstow Town with a 100% record but nobody was expecting bookie’s favourites Cwmbran Town to be at the foot of the table with no points from 3 games.

Celtic Reserves have opted to play in the Gwent Premier Combination League this season and on Friday night they opened their programme in round 1 of the Combination Cup at Rogerstone and they lost 2-1. Their goal was scored by Daniel Madge, a newcomer from Cardiff side St Albans. Celtic’s 15-man squad included 12 teenagers aged 16 and 17.