CWMBRAN eased into the last 32 of the Welsh Cup, but only after they'd been pushed all the way by a battling ten-man Caldicot outfit suffering from the 43rd-minute sending off of skipper David Lloyd.

The Jubilee Way side had taken a shock first-minute lead through former Tottenham Hotspur junior Wayne Morley, but only managed to hold it for five minutes before defender Ross Lloyd headed home a Jamie Edwards corner.

Then came the game's turning-point with just three minutes of the first period remaining.

Striker Kristian Hanbury's shot struck a post, with midfielder Kris Thomas' goal-bound, follow-up effort instinctively palmed over by David Lloyd.

The midfielder immediately walked off the pitch towards the dressing-rooms - even before referee Ray Ellingham had produced the inevitable red card - with midfielder Kristian Dimond sweeping home the resulting penalty.

It was a crushing blow for the Welsh League Division Two team, which although had allowed the visitors to get on top somewhat, certainly looked capable of reaching the break deservedly level at 1-1.

Substitute Andy Mainwaring turned in the third from close range with 20 minutes left, but in terms of goal chances the Crows had much the better of the second period when, in all honesty, they could well have scored another six times.

Mainwaring, fellow substitute Rhys Carpenter, Thomas and Dimond all might have added to the goal total, while Caldicot, too, could have scored again, notably with a long-range effort from Matt Addis.

Caldicot were at full strength, while Cwmbran fielded the side which had started the previous Saturday's home Welsh Premier League clash with Welshpool Town.

Unavailable midfielder Paul Bonar's place on the bench went to newly signed 6ft 5in striker Tom Billing, who made his debut when replacing Edwards ten minutes from time.

Caldicot went ahead when Morley expertly headed in Andrew Wenzel's right-wing cross past the despairing dive of Crows goalkeeper Gareth Wesson from 12 yards.

But the advantage was short lived as Ross Lloyd powered in Edwards' flag-kick just under the crossbar and above the leaps of two on-line defenders.

Mainwaring grabbed Cwmbran's third after Ross Lloyd had headed down a Simon Heal corner.

Caldicot can feel justifiably proud of their performance and will always wonder what might have been had they managed to keep 11 men on the park for the full 90 minutes.

Cwmbran, on the other hand, did more than enough to earn victory, which guarantees them £1,000 for progression.

* Cash-strapped Cwmbran have another chance to bank more much-needed cash when they host Merthyr Tydfil in an FAW Premier Cup first-round encounter on Wednesday (KO 7.30pm).

The winners will receive £6,000 for reaching the second round while defeat will earn the losers £3,500. Caldicot Town: J Smallcombe, A Wenzel, K Stevens, N Windsor (S Monday, 70), L Stone, W Vers, G Cullimore, D Lloyd (c), J Thom (M Williams, 58), W Morley, A Edwards (M Addis, 77). Sent off: Lloyd (43). Goal: Morley (1).

Cwmbran Town: G Wesson, T Green, K James, J Perry (c), R Lloyd, K Thomas, S Heal, K Dimond, K Hanbury (R Carpenter, 50), K Mohamed (A Mainwaring, 50), J Edwards (T Billing, 80). Booked: James (38). Goals: Lloyd (6), Dimond (43, pen), Mainwaring (70). Referee: R Ellingham (Cardiff).