New Inn’s Berrow hat-trick sinks Celtic Men’s Firsts.

Cwmbran Celtic 2–4 New Inn · Ardal League South East · Friday 7 August, Motazone Arena

Celtic’s second league game of the season ended in a 4–2 defeat to New Inn, undone by an eleven-minute spell either side of the half hour in which Alex Berrow scored three times.

It had started well. Rudi Griffiths put Celtic ahead inside seven minutes, turning in a Finlay Wood delivery, and the lead held until the 33rd. What followed was as quick as it was costly: Berrow levelled on 33, put New Inn ahead on 41 from Kobi Preston Watkins, and completed his hat-trick two minutes later from Joel Richards. Three goals in eleven minutes, and a game that had been going Celtic’s way was gone.

Celtic didn’t fold. Wood turned provider again on 71, Kian Saunders finishing to make it 3–2 with the better part of twenty minutes left. But Brad Baker settled it three minutes from time, converting Benjamin Williams’s pass to restore the two-goal margin.

There’s something in that opening half hour and in a response that got Celtic back within one. There’s also a plain lesson in conceding three times in eleven minutes. Sam Lewis and Stephen Muir made three changes across the evening — Charlie Donovan on at the break for Tommy Challenger, Daniel Camaj for Cameron Dean on 70, Ollie Walters for Arthur Furness on 84.

Referee Michal Baniak booked Challenger and Gabriel Howells, both for persistent infringement, with New Inn’s Rico Richards cautioned late on.

Next up: Abergavenny Town away, Friday 14 August, 7:45pm.

Credit – shotbyseb11