A Bleak January County will glad to see the back of
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Wetherby Road
Harrogate Town 2 (March 34, Martin 66)
Newport County 1 (Gambin 17)
Attendance:
Form:
Newport County DWLDLDLdDL
Harrogate Town LLLWLWLdDL
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Both sides struggling for form. Conditions look difficult with pitch heavy and windy so key County play in the right areas. Decision making and set pieces will be key today
CONDITIONS
Cold, cloudy and gusty wind. Pitch looked weathered, quite heavy and erratic in parts
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Promising start soon dissolved, lacked cohesion and teeth final third before sending off.
TURNING POINT
County were in the game until half time but timid second half made worse after Shepherd sent off.
THE MATCH
County made a couple of changes with goalkeeper Nick Townsend returning in place of Tom King who was on the bench. County introduced a new loan signing from AFC Wimbledon, Anthony Hartigan in central midfield in place on the suspended Josh Labadie with Mickey Demetriou captain as they adopted a fluid 3–4–3 formation with Scrimshaw, Taylor and Gambin up top. Harrogate played into the wind first half and showed their intentions from the offset to play direct using Martin as an outlet who competed well in the air with the ball hanging up. County made efforts to settle into a rhythm passing from deep which proved difficult on the surface but they were finding little penetration in the Harrogate half. On 5 minutes, Harrogate launched a direct ball right side which March latched onto right side of the area but Demetriou did well to intercept the danger. County kept plugging away but Harrogate continued to work hard off the ball to deny the space with March, Martin and Falkingham pressurising County into some passing errors. Harrogate continued to persist right side with March making some well timed runs in behind to unsettle County. They gained a free kick in a threatening position on 10 minutes when March was checked by Haynes right side of the box. From the resultant free kick Francis struck a decent effort which curled just wide of the right post. County snapped out their shell with some better cohesion and worked a decent move on 12 minutes with Bennett linking play well near the right corner of the box. He adjusted to whip in a decent searching low cross into the six yard box but Smith was alert to clear the danger. County gained some purpose from their approach with a couple of long throws by Demetriou causing problems for Harrogate but they managed to hook clear. On 17 minutes, County took the lead from a Dolan corner left side which was out-swinging and despite Harrogate heading clear, Gambin was well positioned to direct a shot on the turn into the right corner from 14 yards with help of deflection. County were boosted by the goal and were close gain on 22 minutes when a Demetriou long throw left side of the area was glanced on by Taylor from 8 yards but the effort drifted wide of the right post. Harrogate made efforts to pick up the tempo of their game and remained a threat right side with March alert winning the knock downs. County did better across the face of the area with Hartigan snapping up the loose ball smartly. County made efforts to keep the ball low with Taylor and Scrimshaw busy and when they made the ball stick the moves offered promise but Harrogate remained a threat right side. On 26 minutes, County were given another warning when a ball from deep was fired right side by centre back Lawlor. County switched off allowing the ball to drop dangerously and March cut back a decent pass across the face of the area to find McPake but his effort was well blocked by Dolan. County had opportunities with the ball but indecision and untidy passes continued to put them on the back-foot. On 30 minutes, another warning for County followed when Power worked cross from the right side with too much ease which pinpointed Martin but his header from 12 yards was wide of the right post. County failed to heed several warnings defending their left flank and Harrogate got the goal they deserved on 34 minutes when keeper Belshaw launched a long kick which Martin won ahead of Demetriou and March was quickest to seize the ball right side of the area. He made the most of the acres of space County offered taking one touch before slotting low into the left corner. County went close almost immediately from the kick off when Scrimshaw blasted a decent effort from 35 yards which fizzed just wide of the left post. County continued to be haunted by indecision in the middle of the park gifting back possession when in good positions which allowed Harrogate to counter. On 42 minutes, Harrogate had a free kick right side which was only half cleared by County who were slow to recover and McPake was set free but dragged his effort from 20 yards wide of the left post. County responded with a couple more forceful moves left side on the stroke of half time involving Haynes. He was close on 44 minutes, when he cut inside near the left corner of the area beating Burrell but his low effort went wide of the left post. Harrogate continued to create menace right side and a strong run by March inside the area saw him brushed off by Demetriou but the appeals for a penalty fell on death ears by the referee. March was then booked for the protests that followed. Harrogate had another half chance deep in first half injury time when they forced County to defend deep inside their own area and anxious clearance by Longe-King invited Thomson to shoot from the edge of the area but Dolan did well to block the effort.
County kept things the same after half time despite being on the backfoot in terms of possession. On 46 minutes, Harrogate threatened from a free kick left side which Francis directed to the back post and Martin stretched well but his header from 8 yards was read well by Townsend. Harrogate maintained their grip on the game with the wind behind them and they become more aggressive in the second half forcing play further up the pitch. March switched attention to the left flank and caused problems early on with his pace and winning the knock downs from Martin. County were forced to play on the break with some sporadic disjointed moves largely through the middle with Gambin working hard but he was forced into some dead ends. Harrogate worked a decent move on 55 minutes, this time right side with Power being forced into the right corner but he managed to cut back a dangerous cross into the six yard box which flashed dangerously across the six yard box. County made a double substitution on 62 minutes with Dolan and Scrimshaw being replaced by Willmott and new signing from Plymouth Argyle Dominic Telford went up front as County adjusted to 4–3–3 formation with Willmott going right midfield. Harrogate remained in control pressing County into some cheap passing errors and the ball retention final third did little to help the situation with Harrogate flooding players forward left side. Harrogate were awarded a series of corners left side on the hour which County struggled to clear effectively with strong wind in their faces. On 65 minutes, County conceded a free kick left side when some indecision by Longe-King forced him into a late tackle on March. The free kick was whipped in with venom by Thomson and March saw his header from 10 yards blocked by Shepherd. From the corner, Thomson delivered a precise ball into the six yard box which Martin rose strongly on fending off weak challenge by County to direct header into the right corner. County needed to raise the bar and push their full backs more further up the pitch but were dealt a big blow on 73 minutes when Shepherd strayed in central midfield to win a ball he had over-run and his raised high challenge on Power did enough for the referee to warrant a straight red card. County had to adjust again with Willmott dropping back deeper right side and they made another change on 76 minutes with Amond replacing Gambin and he went right midfield. County struggled to find an outlet on top and their best moves came through the industry of Amond right side but Harrogate worked hard to recover and squash the danger. On 80 minutes, Harrogate showed their prowess again from set pieces when Francis picked out Martin but his header from 12 yards drifted harmlessly wide of the right post. Harrogate remained competitive and had another player booked on 82 minutes when Burrell was booked for bowling over Bennett with an untidy challenge. Harrogate made their first change on 85 minutes with top scorer Muldoon replacing March and County gambled with a late attacking change that saw Collins replace Hartigan. Collins offered some energy late on forcing play higher left side and County won a free kick left side of the box on 88 minutes when Bennett was blocked. The free kick by Haynes went too deep and came to nothing but County went closer on 90 minutes from a similar position. Willmott took the set piece this time and Demetriou did well to win the header ahead of the keeper which found Taylor but his effort from 8 yards was cleared off the line by Burrell. County made efforts to force Harrogate deeper in the four minutes of injury time with Amond making some good industrious runs right side and long throws launched by Demetriou by Harrogate were in no mood to relinquish their lead which took them away from the relegation zone and County down to the seventh in league.
Townsend (6) — distributed well when passed short and was quick to get moves going but more erratic on long kicks. Made a couple of smart saves low down when left exposed.
Shepherd (4) — wasn’t in best form before sending off, never really looked confident with ball at feet and didn’t get outside full back enough. Frustration led to tackle for straight red.
Haynes (5) — never looked comfortable in left midfield, struggled to get to the ball early and restricted on crosses. Needs to demand ball more and be more decisive to run direct.
Demetriou (6) — was forced to turn back and defend to deal with March first half and lost out in some of the headers with Martin. Had a fair quota of long throws which Harrogate dealt well with
Longe-King (5) — got caught out several times second half with slowness reading the play and gave away several unnecessary free kicks. Did well in the air but longer pass were untidy.
Dolan (6) — kept composure and mopped up most threat in behind but never really got on the ball enough to influence game sitting deep. Looked a bit leggy after knock before being replaced
Bennett (5) — did well in aerial duals but struggled for sharpness to pick up the key knock downs and was too slow to second ball. Used the ball when he had it but restricted on chances.
Hartigan (6) — got on the ball well in the first half an hour and was neat and tidy with his passing but got forced back 2nd half, losing his challenges and lost control
Gambin (6) — had a decent first half, took his goal very well and the best moves when through him. Did do enough off the ball to close down and got brushed off too easily when pressed.
Taylor (5) — aside from one chance late on never really looked capable of working keeper. In truth, had little ammunition or quality to thrive on and when isolated was unable to keep possession
Scrimshaw (5) — was forceful with the ball at feet but ran into too many dead ends. Needs to get his head up more and focus on passing and moving. Had one shot from distance.
SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — they played to their strengths and used conditions much better than County. Were effective from direct play and front two were effective. Work ethic was key protecting their lead.
Weaknesses — launched ball long and predictable as it was better sides would’ve dealt with it. Centre backs made several rash clearances and both full backs were ordinary with poor passing.
Opportunities — they stuck with 4–4–2 system and didn’t overcomplicate things. March was flexible and swapped from right to left to give County plenty to think about.
Threats — Martin aerial threat, March runs in behind and never allowed County defence to settle. Thomson and Francis provided some decent set pieces.
OFFICIALS
C Pollard (7) — made a couple of odd decisions to bring back play but got key decisions right and allowed game to flow pretty well
MAN OF THE MATCH
Josh March — on loan from Forest Green and was constant thorn with well timed runs and pace in behind. Worked hard off the ball as well setting up some good chances with speed of thought
IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
County need to write off the last month or so and get back to basics on training pitch this week where they will have the benefit of a full week without a mid-week game. At the moment, there is a lot to work on and although the result was disappointing it was the toothless timid response after going behind that was more of concern. County were lacking leadership and presence especially in the heart of the pitch but it was also frustrating to see County bullied in certain areas of the pitch where they lack physicality and drive to pick up the crucial knock downs. This was no more evident than up top and you feel they really need to sign a robust talisman up top to benefit the more technical players they have which are just not influencing the game enough. Scrimshaw, Telford and Gambin can all be very effective final third but rarely showed their capability today with the ball retention extremely poor and the momentum was quickly stifled by Harrogate. County looked laboured through the middle and confused in their approach play seeming unsure to twist or stick. The 3–4–3 system backfired with both Haynes and Shepherd unsure whether to push on or not and the front three didn’t offer enough work rate allowing Harrogate to counter and fire long balls. Next up is Grimsby Town at home who are on a winless run like County despite new manager Paul Hurst assuming control. They are likely to play 3–5–2 with Hansen an outlet up top but key battles look to be from wing backs and whether County can reassert their game from wide positions.
