DEFEAT at Victoria Road last night prevented Cwmbran from clinching a Loosemores League Cup semi-final spot, although it took a couple of brilliantly-struck goals to beat them.

Teenaged forward Luke Bowen might not score two better goals in his football career but if he does, they probably won't come in the same match again.

However, on theevidence of his magnificent goals, it's not hard to see why the 17-year-old has had trials with FA Premiership club Birmingham City and Coca-Cola Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday.

Any player with either of those clubs would have been proud to have scored any one of Bowen's goals. From the left hand side, Bowen curled a 25-yard right-footer past Crows goalkeeper Gareth Wesson four minutes from the end of normal time for his first.

And with penalties just a matter of minutes away, the talented Bowen won the tie by bending in a same-distance, left-footed shot from the opposite side of the pitch.

The match had been taken into extra time by Crows midfielder Kristian Dimond who fired a penalty in off a post a minute from time after former Newport County defender Matt Rees had handled a Kris Thomas effort.

Soon after the start of extra time, Wesson made a fine save to prevent ex-Crows striker Rhys Griffiths from heading Port Talbot into the lead for the second time before home stopper Gareth Williams smothered a point-blank shot from substitute Andy Mainwaring.

The Crows rested central defender and skipper Jason Perry while wide midfielder Simon Heal was side-lined with an Achilles' problem .

Heal's absence meant a starting debut for youngster Rhys Carpenter, midfielder Thomas dropping into the back four to cover for Perry and Paul Bonar taking Thomas' position.

However, like Mainwaring, Perry and Luke Fernquest came off the bench as striker Kaid Mohamed, winger Jamie Edwards and Bonar all picked up knocks which will require treatment ahead of Saturday's home Welsh Premier League clash against the team immediately below them, fourth-placed Welshpool Town.

Port Talbot Town: G Williams, L de Vulgt (T Hooper, 46), N Jones, L Surman (c), C Hanford, M Rees, C Pridham, D Johnston (R Jones, 70), R Griffiths, L Bowen, S Devonald. Sub not used: A Pearson. Goals: Bowen (84 and 118). Cwmbran Town: G Wesson, T Green, K James, R Lloyd, K Thomas, P Bonar (L Fernquest, 46), R Carpenter, K Dimond (c), K Hanbury, K Mohamed (A Mainwaring, 46), J Edwards (J Perry, 70). Goal: Dimond (89, pen). Referee: N Thomas (Garden Village).