Wiseman’s Hellenic Floodlit Cup

Newent Town 3 Bewdley Town 2

THE Daffs made it through to the next round of the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup, beating Hellenic One table toppers Bewdley in a pulsating midweek cup tie at Wildsmith Meadow.

Played in wet and windy conditions, Newent got off to a dream start in the third minute when a ball played across the six-yard line found an unmarked Max Poidevin who slotted home.

And just three minutes later, the Daffs doubled their lead when Tiago Ribeiro found Kyle Taylor, whose shot was saved before former Bewdley star Dylan Hart fired home the rebound.

A shell-shocked Bewdley then began to put some moves together with Elloiitt Lees and Kai Del Kiffin going close.

But Taylor nearly increased Newent’s lead in the 21st minute, hitting the post after being put in by Jaber Ahmed.

Bewdley’s Dan Sutton and Ryan Bangay then began to impose themselves in midfield, and the visitors were rewarded in the 27th minute, when Lees found space on the right and delivered a perfect cross which Del Kiffin tucked home for 2-1.

Newent went close again though minutes before the break, Taylor delivering a free kick and Hart firing just wide.

In the second half, with Newent now playing with the wind, the Daffs exploited the pace of their attack, with Taylor playing a ball over the top for Hart in the 54th minute, only for the collision with the keeper going the goalie’s way in the ref’s eyes.

And on 60 minutes, another striker-keeper collision went the way of Bewdley, a sliding shot from Del Kiffin rebounding to Lees who fired home the equaliser.

Newent appealed for a foul, but the match officials were unmoved and the goal stood.

Ben Harbourne was subbed at that point but immediately received a yellow card on the bench – his second – meaning a red.

But Newent had a big chance to retake the lead just two minutes later when Reece Williams headed over.

The match was now end-to-end and the state of the pitch often made passes a lottery, with standing pools of water in some areas.

Hart then went clean through only to be cleaned out by the keeper, with the ref again awarding nothing.

But on 72 minutes Newent were awarded a free-kick, delivered into the box by Ribiero and headed home by Connor Baker, cueing riotous delight from the throng of youthful home fans, who promptly invaded the pitch.

Table-toppers Bewdley went in search of an equaliser, but despite creating chances were unable to convert, and the Daffs went through after a rousing cup tie played in terrible conditions which could have gone either way.

While most of the weekend’s fixture list was a washout thanks to Storm Claudia, Newent Development drew 4-4 away to Evesham United 2nds on Saturday, Josh Coakley firing a hat-trick and Zach Whitehouse one.

Lydbrook also won 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Bibury in the Gloucestershire Senior Cup, but table-mates Mitcheldean were walloped 7-0 at Winchcombe in the league.