Andy Sampson made three changes to the side that won at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Will Quigley and Jake Ballantyne returned to the side and there was a debut for Emerson Tattersall as his suspension came to an end as well as a home debut for goalkeeper Billy O’Connell. Their opponents Petersfield made five changes from the team that lost 10-0 at Blackfield on Saturday for tonight’s Hampshire Senior Cup tie.
The home side kicked off attacking the Allotment end. Newport applied early pressure but in a Petersfield counterattack only a timely intervention by Jake Ballentyne prevented Luke Kendall having a clear shot at goal.
Newport took the lead on 11 minutes when a corner from the right wasn’t cleared and Emerson Tattersall’s downward header went into the net. Petersfield thought that they had equalised shortly afterwards but the ball was adjudged not to have crossed the line. The Newport lead was short lived as following an innocuous challenge, Petersfield were awarded a penalty which Luke Kendall duly converted. Newport continued to attack and a curling shot from Josh Younie narrowly missed bar and post.
As Newport continued to attack, a long range shot from Charlie Urry was pushed around the post by George Hill for a corner. The goal that Newport had been threatening finally came on 43 minutes when Aiden Sainsbury drove a free kick from 20 yards high into the roof of the net.
In the first half Newport had more possession than Petersfield and deserved their half time lead.
Half Time: Newport 2 Petersfield 1
Emerson Tattersall jinxed through the defence, but George Hill was quickly off his line to smother the ball. The first booking of the match was to Max Elwood for a foul on Charlie Urry. Newport extended their lead on 55 minutes when Emerson Tattersall played the ball across the face of the goal and Scott Sampson stroked it in from close range.
As Petersfield attempted to find a way back into the game, Billy O’Carroll produced a fine save to deny Grant Powell.
Both teams made substitutions on 64 minutes. Petersfield replaced Maurice Bedford with Joe Boxall and Newport brought on Oliver Wilson to replace Matt Gane. Newport had a goal disallowed for offside then Petersfield scored a second when Luke Kendall scored direct from a 20 yard free kick, to set up a nervous last period of play. Newport made further substitutions bringing on Jared Wetherick and Darren Powell for Josh Younie and Jake Ballantyne. Petersfield brought on Bobby Filary for Luke Walker.
Despite sustained pressure from Petersfield, Newport managed to hold on to their lead and even hit the post in the dying minutes. Newport are away in the next round to AFC Bournemouth.
Final Score Newport 3 Petersfield 2
NEWPORT
Billy O‘Connell , Mark Taylor, Will Quigley, Aiden Sainsbury, Spike Pearce, Scott Sampson ,
Matthew Gane (Oliver Wilson), Jake Ballentyne (Darren Powell), Charlie Urry, Josh Younie (Jared Wetherick), Emerson Tattersall
PETERSFIELD
George Hill, Michael Johnson, Olly Kershaw, Harry Tremlett, Chris Harvey, Max Elwood, Marcus Bedford (Joe Boxall), Luke Kendall, Luke Walker (Bobby Filary), Grant Powell, Will Essai
Referee: George Kimber Sweatman
Attendance 82