Port made a quick exit from the Welsh Cup, falling at the first hurdle after giving their poorest performance of the season so far. Newi made the best possible start to the game and got their noses in front after only four minutes. When the ball was played in from the right there did not appear to be imminent danger but the visitors' defence got themselves into a tangle and Mark Allen was on hand to score from close range. The home side looked more likely to score and could have gone further ahead after 15 mins when good work down the left by Dowridge set up an opportunity for Shannon but the striker failed to hit the target when well placed.

For most of the opening half Port mainly resorted to to long ball tactics but these proved to be largely ineffective against the no nonsense defence of Rowlands and Jeffries. Usual dangerman Carl Owen did manage a shot which curled past the angle after a Mark Williams supply. After 39 mins Carl Owen returned the compliment after a good run on the left before crossing for Mark Williams whose header flew just over the bar.

In the second period Gareth Caughter was introduced instead of Campbell Harrison with Ritchie Owen moving to left back. For a time Port's game improved and for the first time they managed to string a few passes together putting more pressure on the home rearguard. The closest they came to scoring was after 61 mins when Gareth Caughter set up Carl Owen on the right, but the striker was unlucky to see his shot go into the side netting from a narrow angle.

Then the game was settled in just one minute. Central defender Lee Webber was inexplicably substituted and almost immediately the reorganised Port defence made a muddle of an attempted clearance. Joe Desmoreaux had the simplest of tasks to put the ball into the net from close range. A minute later on 66 mins Paul Dowridge sent a low speculative shot towards McGuigan's goal and the crowd were amazed when the ball crept inside the post, with the keeper seemingly unsighted. The game was now over and there was no way back into the game for Port. The final 24 mins of a very ordinary game were played out with very little of note taking place. The only Port effort of interest was a burst forward by Danny Hughes which was only cleared at the expense of a corner.

Port slipped to their fifth successive defeat and on this occasion, unlike the game against Bangor, there was little or nothing for supporters to cheer. The defeats seem to have taken their toll and the team lacked confidence to bring the ball down and play the passing game which has served them so well in the past.

Newi Cefn Druids: McIntosh, Nick Parry (Osian Jones), Dowridge, Aled Rowlands, Brett Jeffries, Mark Allen, Cunnah (Alec Stacey), Danny Desmoreaux, Joe Desmoreaux, Shannon (John Madden), Anthony Williams.

Port: McGuigan, John G Jones, Danny Hughes, Lee Webber (Andy Wagstaffe), Harrison (Gareth Caughter), Gareth Parry, Emrys Williams, Ritchie Owen, Tony Williams, Mark Williams (Barry Evans), Carl Owen.

Report by: Gareth Williams.