Swindon march into Youth Cup second round with big Newport win

Swindon Town under-18s are through to the FA Youth Cup second round after a dazzling attacking display saw them see off Newport County with a 3-1 win.

Inside a minute Swindon showed this wasn’t going to be the tricky second album as Botan Ameen received the ball, burned past two defenders and drilled a shot that was well saved by Fraser Needham.

There was another big early chance as Dani Gonzalez slipped Miles Obodo in behind, he took a heavy touch around the goalkeeper but Tomos Lloyd had managed to keep pace and made a fine recovery tackle to deny him the open goal.

Then Moses Alexander-Walker seemed to have exposed a loose Swindon pass before Harry Chard got back and immediately sent a long ball to get Obodo through on goal. With the goal at his mercy, he struck straight at the ‘keeper.

But the opener didn’t take much longer as from a corner, the ball came to George Alston on the edge to whip a delightful ball onto the head of Ant McCormick to power home.

The goal helped Swindon to turn it up a gear, pressing the life out of Newport and playing some lovely passes in possession. The young first-year Owen Foye was making a real impression with his combination of tenacity and composure in the middle of the park.

Right before the break, Alston fed Gonzalez in the box. He rolled inside his marker and fizzed a shot across the goal but again couldn’t find the target.

Seconds after the restart it was all square as Morgan Evans clipped a ball into Alexander-Walker to calmly help into the corner.

Town kept coming and Foye got in behind, he clipped the ball across the goalkeeper but agonisingly just too far beyond Obodo.

Ameen had terrorised Newport all evening and did it once more as his lightning feet got him down the side of the box and he slammed across goal and the ball hit Obodo and went in, but he was flagged offside.

Again Swindon couldn't quite make the most of their great play as wonderful close control from Alston allowed him to send Obodo through but he could only hit the side netting.

But he wasn’t going to make the same mistake again when chasing after a long ball over the top, Harry Gray was square but Obodo drilled his shot low into the corner.

Two swiftly became three as the ball fell for Ameen in the area and he blasted a shot between the ‘keeper’s legs with such power he had no chance.

Alston had the opportunity to make it even more handsome with an effort Needham saved at his near post.

A late challenge gave Newport a stoppage-time penalty, which Lucas Myers spectacularly saved low to his right.

STFC starting XI: Myers, Hutt, Chard, Foye, McCormick, Stewart, Ameen, Terry, Obodo, Gonzalez, Alson.

STFC substitutes: Robinson, Britchford-Stanley, Larkins, Gray, Owiti, Betts, Tombs.

NCFC starting XI: Needham, Watkins, Evans, Pugh, Sanca, Lloyd, Alexander-Walker, Lonergan, Bony, Norris, Evans.

NCFC substitutes: Davison, Price, Rowsell, Barrett, Jones.