Report

A nightmare for New Inn as they were thrashed 5-1 by Abergavenny Thursdays.

Due to injuries, holidays, and work commitments New Inn were forced to field a scratch side. With only one first team player from last season available, New Inn were seriously short of quality, but the effort could not be faulted.

Abergavenny looked a very average side, a sad sight consideringthat not long ago they were a Welsh Premier league team. The game was an open affair from the start, with both sides finding plenty of space to play in. It was Abergavenny who opened the scorer, and New Inn keeper Dan Williams' howler was a sign of things to come. A routine cross was well taken by Williams but he allowed the ball to slip from his grasp, giving the big Abergavenny striker the easiest of chances to open the scoring. New Inn fought back and had their best spell of the game. First Mike Davidge shot just wide with a powerful free kick from twenty five yards. Then Andrew Toovey had a great chance when one on one with the keeper but tamely shot into the keepers hands. New Inn did get their reward on the half hour though, when Jeff Tozer won a free kick forty yards from goal. Tozer was an aerial threat throughout the first half, winning either the flick on or a free kick from almost every high ball. Mike Davidge sent the ball into the box and again Tozer was there, this time flicking the ball into the path of Ieuan Duggan who slid home from eight yards. A free kick for a back pass then presented New Inn with the chance to go in front but Darryl Nightingale fired over from ten yards.  With New Inn now getting on top they shot themselves in the foot again, this time Alun Willis volleying into his own net from a long Abergavenny throw.

HALF TIME - NEW INN 1-2 Abergavenny Thursdays

The second half was a sloppier affair from New Inn as fitness began to tell. Abergavenny must have thought it was Christmas when Dan Williams fumbled another cross straight to a striker. Another tap in doubling Abergavenny's lead. This goal was the catalyst for what could only be called a circus of changes for New Inn. Full back Mike Johns was substituted for Russ Boyle. Boyle pulled on the keepers gloves with Dan Williams moving up front. Jeff Tozer switched to centre midfield with Mike Davidge going out on the left. This left Adam Fisher to drop to left back and complete the game of musical positions. Whilst Dan Williams energy up front was a plus, the rest of the side was in disarray tactically and lost the good shape that had worked well in the first half. The game was completely open and despite Ieuan Duggan hitting the post it was Abergavenny who took best advantage of the space. First their young striker saw his shot from a tight angle palmed into the net by Russ Boyle, then their substitute winger found space in the box to fire a shot straight at Boyle. Once again though Boyle could only deflect the shot over his head and into the back of the net.

Five Abergavenny goals, five gifts from New Inn. A winnable fixture turned into a hiding by comical errors. The players who made themselves available can't be blamed for being out of their depth, hopefully with no more midweek fixtures we'll have a stronger squad for the rest of the season.