Road to Wembley - Late winner for The Port

Newport held an FA Cup game at St George's Park for the first time in 5 years and 153 Islanders stood in a gorgeous summer evening to watch Newport IOW move onto the First Qualifying Round after a last gasp winner against Bitton.

The Port got a fantastic start after 8 minutes when a cross from James Butt to the near post deceived a defender and TOM McINNES tapped the ball in the net from close range to give the Port a deserved lead.

McInnes had a goal disallowed but Bitton were coming more and more into the game. In the 2nd half it was up and down as Newport's Iain Seabrook's shot was tipped over the bar by John Rendell but Bitton equalised on 62 minutes when Guy Cocks (imagine the songs?) low shot went through the Newport defence and into the corner of the net. 1-1.

As Newport sought a winner, a rasping shot from Iain Seabrook from inside the penalty area was punched away by John Rendell. In the dying minutes Tom McInnes was substituted by Freddie Knowles and it proved to be an inspired change as Freddie Knowles crossed from the left to the far post in the final minute and MoM IAIN SEABROOK teed up his shot before blasting it into the net from an acute angel. There was no time for Bitton to respond as the final whistle was less than a minute away.

It was the Port's first F.A.Cup win for six years means they now travel to Oxfordshire's Wantage Town on August 29th in the next round.

Newport: Steeter; Gregory, Shephard, Ovnik, Insley; Scovell, Powell, Butt (Evans), McInnes (Knowles); Seabrook, Hart.
Subs not used: Webb, Williams, Sprools, Stay.
Attendance: 153