City kicked off their Premier Division campaign under a blazing August sun and caught the visitors out as early as the third minute. Leon Gutzmore raced onto a long upfield ball from Martin Davies and got the better of his marker to coolly lob Pat Mountain in the visitor's goal, to the strikers' obvious delight. It was the best possible start by the home side but their joy was short lived as the Welsh side stunned the home fans with an equalizer a minute later.
1
Martin Davies
2
Tim Wooding
3
Shane Wardley
4
Steve Holden
5
Colin Vowden
6
Rob Nightingale
7
Matt Clements
8
Adie Hayes
9
Darren Collins
10
Leon Gutzmore
11
Adam Wilde
12
Jack Wignall - On for 6 (80)
13
Matt Nurse
14
Che Wilson - On for 2 (63)
15
Kevin Wilkin
16
Richard Skelly - On for 3 (72)
A defensive mix-up between Shane Wardley and Martin Davies allowed Newport's new signing Neil Davies to steal in and pull the visitors level. With parity restored, County began to assert their authority on the game, gaining plenty of possession in City's half, whilst the home side continually looked to pick out frontrunners Gutzmore and Darren Collins with long balls over the top. The pattern was set for the afternoon. City could have forged ahead after 17 minutes when a free-kick from the left caused a certain amount of mayhem in the Newport penalty area, but Steve Holden blazed the loose ball over the bar when well placed. A minute later City were behind. Wardley was robbed on the left, deep inside City territory, the Newport wingers cross was repelled at the near post but the ball ran kindly for Davis who pouncedl to put the visitors into a deserved lead.
Until now the pacy Matt Clements had been all but an interested onlooker, but two minutes later he got the chance to show that pace down the right wing. He left Newport defenders toiling in his wake before pulling the ball back for Adie Hayes to blast a first time shot a yard over. At the other end, City were always under serious threat as Newport turned the screw in midfield, attacking with pace down both flanks.
City again threatened from a set-play on 37 minutes as Wooding's free-kick found Gutzmore in the penalty area but the striker could not find space for a shot and the chance was gone. Right on the break, Scott Walker lost Tim Wooding and crossed for Garry Shephard who glanced a header alarmingly just wide of the far post, with Davies beaten.
Darren Collins and Jeff Eckhardt watch
the ball pass them by
Newport continued to dominate territorially after the break, and on 52 minutes Davies produced a point-blank save from a Jeff Eckhardt header in a crowded penalty area to deny the Welshmen. Shephard then nearly headed in a left-wing cross as Newport threatened to run riot.
On the hour City were virtually finished off as Wooding unluckily stood on the ball, allowing the sprightly Davis to poach the ball and play in Shephard who despite looking suspiciously offside, comfortably tucked the ball under the advancing Davies for 3-1 to effectively wrap up the points.
Leon Gutzmore shields the ball
from Newport's Billy Clark
The luckless Wooding was soon replaced as City gave a debut to new signing from Bristol Rovers, Che Wilson, and the utility player caught the eye with some sound defensive play. Things were simply not working for David Batch's team as they could not penetrate a resolute Newport defence, marshalled by the impressive Eckhardt.
Darren Collins, sent off in pre-season, must have feared the worst as the referee reached in his pocket after the striker had clattered Billy Clark in front of the partisan Newport following, but he escaped with a yellow. City were showing signs of desperation, and the game became disjointed and niggly as a result. In a final gamble, Jack Wignall was sent on to play at Right-Back, with Wilson pushing into midfield as City tried to get on terms. However, their attacks were nothing more than sporadic as they floundered on the Newport back line.
A neat flick from Gutzmore sent Clements on his way, but the Newport penalty area was sadly devoid of City attackers and his cross came to nothing.
The game ended with three quick corners to the home side, the last of which being headed meekly wide by Colin Vowden. As City threw everything into a last ditch effort, gaps inevitably appeared at the back and Davies had to be alert to deny two marauding Newport substitutes. In truth, it was a disappointing day from a City perspective against a highly impressive Newport County team.
