Byrnes on target as Stonehouse beat Newent ahead of play-offs

Goals from Connor Walters and Fin Byrnes saw Stonehouse Town beat Newent Town for a second time in just three days on Tuesday evening – with the Magpies securing a 2-0 win at Oldends Lane, writes Alfie Richmond.

The Daffs were visiting Stonehouse in the hopes of a strong end to their campaign — with a sixth place finish in their sights, as both sides played out their penultimate league games. The hosts, however, had already secured their spot in a play-off semi-final, and were looking to do the quick-fire double over Newent after cruising to a 4-0 win against them on the weekend.

Newent started the better side, with George Brand causing the first issue for the hosts’ defence on 11 minutes after Luke Firkin’s find, but Stonehouse keeper Leonard Dinnall was quick off his line to close his stretching effort down.

Seven minutes later, Connor Baker broke down the right-hand side for the visitors to tee-up Connor Wagstaff, who couldn’t divert his volley on target.

Stonehouse’s first real opportunity came on 20 minutes, when Spencer Martin’s cross found the head of Connor Walters to force a good stop out of Leyton Joyce in the Newent goal.

The hosts began to slowly get themselves in the game, and on 28 minutes, opened the scoring with a wonderfully-worked goal. Jamol Dare slid a pass into Harley Hudd, eventually putting it on a plate for Walters to tap home at the back post.

Dare continued to cause Newent’s back-line problems, and could’ve had a couple himself moments after the goal. He first forced Joyce into a remarkable double-save, before dropping a defender minutes later and dragging an effort wide.

Both teams had chances with seven minutes of the first half remaining. Alex Kibble had a shot stopped from range for Stonehouse, while Wagstaff glanced a header wide for the visitors.

On the stroke of half-time, some more Joyce heroics kept Newent in the game as another chance passed the home side by. Finn Brynes spun a brilliant ball into Hudd, whose early strike was well-stopped by the goal-keeper once more.

Half-time saw the hosts go in with a 1-0 lead, though they’d have felt it could’ve been more. Newent had begun the game well, but had struggled to deal with the likes of Dare and Hudd on the break.

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Chances were hard to come by in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, but George Brand was cautioned on 63 minutes after having no choice but to bring down Dare in midfield, after he’d danced past three or four Newent players. Kibble drilled the resulting free-kick wide.

Another caution was brandished to a Newent player three minutes later, when Max Iepouiden was penalised for a late challenge on Finn Rees.

The hosts doubled their lead though on 68 minutes after Walter’s trickery was initially well-defended — but Byrnes was on hand to curl in a beauty to give Stonehouse a 2-0 lead.

Stan Osamgoya flashed a pearler of an effort onto the bar with 15 minutes to play in Newent’s attempts to find a way back into the game.

A rare second half venture into the Stonehouse box saw Brand’s cross narrowly evade Sam Judge, before the latter sent a wild effort wide of Dinnall’s goal with seven minutes left.

But the home side saw the game out to collect another three points, keeping the momentum high in their push for promotion.

Newent look to end their season on a high as they play their closing match at Cheltenham Saracens, while Stonehouse look ahead to a big couple of weeks.

Their campaign ends as they host Redditch Borough on Saturday, before heading to Bewdley Town on Tuesday night for their play-off Semi Final.

The Magpies then look ahead to a GFA Challenge Trophy final, taking on Roman Glass St George at the Gloucestershire FA headquarters on the 30 April, as their great season heads to an exciting end.

Subs: Keveren (16’), Bainbridge (53’), Haswell (73’), Pirelli (73’), Nash (77’).

Subs: Duff, Haysall (22’), Blood (73’), Cordell, Mokoto (73’).

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Fin Byrnes (Stonehouse Town)