City came away from Newport with a hard earned and valuable point, but it was a case of two points getting away even considering the fact that visitors went behind after 38 minutes. City eventually equalised through Kevin Wilkin but prior to that had what looked a perfectly good Colin Vowden goal ruled out by the referee in a second half that they had by far the better of.
Both sides started in positive fashion in difficult blustery conditions on a rock hard pitch at Newport's Spytty Park, having a chance each in the first minute. City, fielding a side that showed only one change from last Monday's victory at Chelmsford, Kevin Wilkin replacing the injured Leon Gutzmore, forced a corner from their first attack, Stuart Niven seeing his shot from the edge of the area well blocked after the ball was only partially cleared. Newport then went straight up the other end and Kristian Dimond fired in a speculative effort from 30 yards. Although not well struck, it took a wicked bounce of the surface. Taken by surprise, City keeper Martin Davies could only pat the ball down in front of himself but reacted quickly to smother the loose ball as Neil Davis came steaming in.
A nice build up on the right hand side involving Bloomfield, Wilkin and Wardley saw the latter float an inviting cross into the area. Robbie Simpson got a head to the ball but could only glance it well wide of the far post.
The windy conditions were causing both sides problems as they battled, at times, just to keep the ball in the field of play. All too often passes outpaced their desired recipients, requiring ball boys and girls to chase across the running track that surrounds Newport's pitch.
On eighteen minutes, Wilkin spotted a gap in the home sides defence and produced a surging run and 20 yard shot that forced Pat Mountain to produce a good save; the big keeper getting everything behind the ball and punching it away in a rather unorthodox manner for a throw-in.
Danny Bloomfield looks to
gain possession
This was to be more or less Mountain's last contribution as a minute later he was carried off injured. Niven's long throw was headed on by Wilkin, Mountain leapt to claim the ball but then fell awkwardly, twisting his knee in the process. With no substitute keeper on the bench, centre half Jeff Eckhardt was forced to don the gloves.
From the restart, City instantly looked to take advantage. Simpson went on a forceful run past two defenders before bursting into the box, as he did so he received a push in the back from substitute Andrew Thomas, sending him stumbling forward, the referee saw nothing wrong and play continued ending with Niven playing a lovely ball in behind the home defence for Jack Wignall to lift a cross into the area that saw Adie Hayes place a stooping header past the upright.
City continued to show more of a cutting edge as Simpson fired three feet over from distance after 26 minutes. Sixty seconds on, Simpson was again involved when defender Billy Clark slipped while in possession on the halfway line. Simpson picked up the loose ball and raced forward. Looking for support he found Niven who jinked his way into the area before picking out Wilkin at the far post, but he was just off target with his header.
Robbie Simpson cuts inside
Steve Benton
County, who upto this point had not shown much as an attacking force, finally threatened after thirty four minutes and very nearly took the lead. Garry Shephard did really well to get his right wing cross in, Vowden could only head it away as far as Michael Fowler who picked his spot and let fly, forcing Davies to pull off a splendid save low down to his right, the ball going for a corner.
It was only a brief respite for City as four minutes later they did go behind. A clever flick from Dimond found Fowler in a similar position to that from which he had tested Davies minutes before. He again attempted a shot but this time scuffed it badly, however, it turned into the perfect pass as it found Neil Davis well inside City's area, first time control and a quick turn left Tim Wooding floundering and the former Hednesford striker stroked the ball beyond Davies for the Welsmen's first goal in 482 minutes of football.
The goal appeared to lift a weight from the Newport players shoulders and they then began to look dangerous. With their tails well and truly up, the home side could have extended their lead three minutes later when a mistake by Wooding let them in. A long clearance out of defence was misjudged by the City defender, the ball bouncing over his head, as quick as a flash Shephard was away and clear on goal. He unselfishly squared the ball to the unmarked Davis but was probably left wishing he had taken it on himself after Davis produced a weak shot from twelve yards that Davies easily gathered.
Newport maintained the pressure and a minute before the interval Steve Benton was only a whisker away from making contact with Dimonds whipped cross as City continued to look shaky.
City composed themselves at half-time and came out with renewed vigour, ending up dominating the second half. Niven was City's main threat with his accurate set pieces causing the home side major headaches. It was his 55th minute free-kick that saw Wilkin rise unopposed at the near post, the veteran striker should have at least hit the target but his header was well off the mark.
With the wind at their backs, City enjoyed territorial superiority as Newport found it difficult to make any headway. Just after the hour, the visitors thought they had made this advantage pay. Niven whipped in another great corner, Simpson jumped with Eckhardt at the near post, the stand-in keeper completely missing the ball and Vowden arrived behind him to head home, but as the City players celebrated the goal was ruled out, much to the bewilderment of those involved.
Unperturbed, City kept pressing and a minute later Simpson fizzed a ball across the face of the Newport goal that just asked to be turned in. Then Danny Bloomfield, who had been pretty anonymous up to then, placed a header goalwards from Niven's cross, Eckhardt was forced to move swiftly along his line to push it round the post for a corner. From the flag kick, the keeper punched weakly at the near-post, Bloomfield pounced on the loose ball and fired in a first time shot, but Eckhardt had recovered sufficiently to smother his effort.
Kevin Wilkin is crowded out
City were turning the screw as they continued to enjoy a good period of pressure and finally got the equaliser they deserved after sixty eight minutes. From within a crowd of players, Wilkin met Shane Wardley's inswinging corner, the ball appeared to have been hooked way, but the referee's assistant flagged to indicate that the ball had crossed the line.
County responded with Fowler attempting another shot from distance, but his bobbling effort caused Davies no trouble, the City keeper fielding rather than saving the ball. Niven should have done better five minutes later when Simpson set him up on the edge of the area, but he placed his firmly struck shot straight at Eckhardt, who saved.
An 82nd minute corner provided Newport with their only real chance of the half. Clark got above the City defence to head goalwards, under immense pressure Davies punched, but only to his namesake Neil Davis six yards out, fortunately for City he failed to control and the ball was scrambled away. Simpson's set-up saw Niven drive high over the bar before Jack Wignall gave City a scare with an under hit backpass that Davies reached just before the marauding Shephard.
City finished with a flourish after they were awarded a free-kick in the final minute when Simpson was crudely brought down by Dimond on the edge of the area as he cut inside. Niven took charge and forced Eckhardt into a diving save at the foot of his post, the keeper then produced another save to block Wignall's follow-up. City had to settle for a point while Eckhardt carried off the man of the match award.
Post match reaction
Gary Roberts
It was reasonably satisfactory although I thought we could have taken all three points. After the first half an hour or so we looked far more threatening than they did. I think it says it all really when their centre half who took over in goal is made "man-of-match"........more
