Newport County Under-18s were defeated 3-1 by Swindon Town in their first Youth Alliance League outing of the new year at USW Sport Park.
First half goals from Jo Owiti and George Alston, followed by a late strike from Ash Glynn were enough to see Town take all three points in South Wales.
The match began with a dramatic twist in the 11th minute when County were reduced to 10 men. Forward Cameron Egan was shown a straight red card for a late challenge on Swindon’s Charlie Betts, leaving the Exiles with a numerical disadvantage for the remainder of the contest.
Despite the setback, the Exiles' defence remained resolute, and they held firm for much of the first half.
Swindon threatened early, but the first real opportunity of the game came in the 22nd minute when George Alston put the ball in the back of the net for the visitors with a neat finish from close range. However, after consulting with the assistant referee, the goal was ruled out for offside, much to Newport’s relief.
The Exiles then had their own chances to take the lead. Corey Evans, Morgan Evans, and Jaden Bahamuid all saw shots narrowly miss the target, but the hosts couldn’t quite find the finishing touch before halftime.
Just as it looked like Newport would make it to the break level, Swindon struck twice in quick succession during added time. First, Alston floated a precise ball to Owiti at the far post, who headed the ball back across goal and into the corner to give the visitors the lead.
Moments later, Alston took matters into his own hands, embarking on a brilliant solo run that saw him glide past multiple defenders before keeping his composure and slotting the ball into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
The second half began with Swindon pressing for a third, and they came close to extending their lead when Dani Gonzalez unleashed a powerful shot that was excellently kept out by Newport goalkeeper Bailey Hopkins.
As the half wore on, the young Exiles began to push forward in search of a way back into the game. Their persistence paid off in the 68th minute when Corey Evans curled a brilliant free-kick into the top corner from a dangerous position, halving the deficit and reigniting the belief in a potential comeback.
Despite continued pressure, Newport couldn’t find the equaliser. With the game winding down, Swindon sealed the win in the closing stages. Alston, who had already scored and assisted in the match, delivered a pinpoint cross into the area for Ash Glynn.
Glynn controlled the ball with a single touch before volleying it into the net to make it 3-1 and ensure all three points for the visitors.