Amond predatory instincts keeps County top

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 2 (Twine 51, Amond 90+1)

Colchester United 1 (Brown 89)

Attendance:

Form:

Newport County WWWLWLLWWW

Colchester United LLdWDLDLWW

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Colchester have had a couple of good results recently but their away form is indifferent. County need to stifle their energy and keep patience to assert their game-plan

CONDITIONS
Heavy rain showers, cool and quite windy. Pitch was glossy and fast on top but retained condition well

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Creative, yielded several chances and defended well, limited Colchester to shots from distance.

TURNING POINT
Early goal was important but not defining.

THE MATCH
County made just the one change with Padraig Amond replacing Saikou Janneh and they started well dominating the early possession. Colchester playing a compact 4–5–1 formation were happy to sit in and break from wide positions to test County with both full backs contributing well. On 3 minutes, County were quick to turn defensive in attack working a move left side with Haynes prominent driving in from the left flank. Amond had taken up a decent position right side of the area in space with the left back Bramall behind the play but the pass was slightly overplayed. Amond did well to retrieve the ball and his cut back invited Cooper to shoot right side from 25 yards but Colchester keeper saved well low down. County continued to pick holes well right side with Sheehan orchestrating some good moves which unsettled the defence. Colchester were content to play direct largely with Norris robust challenging but the County defence were in no mood for charity. On 10 minutes, County swept forward again very effectively in transition with Haynes decisive and his cross left side of the area caused problems inside the six yard box but Smith managed to get the ball safe. Colchester made efforts to pick up their game pressing hard in the middle with Noah-Chivers and Pell leaving their mark with a few changes. On 15 minutes, County created another good move from some bold play left side with Haynes this time turning provider threading precise low pass for Abrahams. He drove into the left corner and cut back an excellent cross into the six yard box which pinpointed Amond but he headed wide of the right post under pressure from Smith. County were buoyed by their approach play working some good situations deep inside the Colchester area and were close again on 17 minutes from a move right side of the area involving Amond. His lay off into the path of Abrahams presented Abrahams the opportunity to shoot first but his effort was dragged wide of the left post when he should have worked the keeper. Moments later County had an even better situation when Labadie won a free kick when he was checked running through the middle. Twine took the free kick and struck a great effort from 25 yards which struck the bar and in the follow up Cooper directed a header under pressure wide of the right post from 10 yards. Colchester made efforts to work the ball more into wide positions to find space with kicks from the keeper left side pinpointing Harriot who was robust in challenge. Colchester gained some confidence from their approach left side with left back Bramall keen to support but this offered County the chance to get in behind when moves broke down. Colchester had a fortunate escape on 23 minutes when Cooper directed a good direct pass right side which Twine latched onto and he had time to address his shot but it was blocked well by Smith. On 26 minutes, County then had a corner left side which Twine directed well forcing a half clearance to the edge of the box and after a Demetriou air kick, Shepherd blasted well over. Colchester kept persisting away left side with Harriot busy with the ball at his feet but Cooper marshalled the threat well. County then had Labadie in the book on 30 minutes for simulation when it looked like he had tangled with Pell. The game was threatening simmer over moments later when Harriot kicked Cooper from behind and in the altercation that followed he shoved Sheehan in the face and was extremely lucky to escape just with a booking. Stevenson was also booked for Colchester on 35 minutes for obstructing a run on the break by Amond right side. On 40 minutes, Colchester flirted with goal when a short corner was worked right side and a lay off by Senior invited Bramall to shoot first time from the edge of the area but the rising shot went well over. County kept pressing matters as half time approach and another intricate move on 43 minutes from a throw in left side of the area saw Dolan threat a pass into Amond but his snapshot was wide and high of the right post. Colchester showed some of their capability in first half injury time when a quick break from left to right stretched County and Pell glanced a header into the path of Senior but his shot from 16 yards was well blocked by Demetriou.

County continued to pick holes well right side early in the second half with Shepherd and Sheehan combining well. On 48 minutes, County won a corner right side which Dolan delivered well to the front post and Demetriou stole in with a firm header but it fizzed wide of the right post. County kept up their heat and finally got their reward on 51 minutes but this time from left side from a quick free kick. Demetriou picked out Dolan and his deft pass inside opened up space for Twine who adjusted well before smashing an excellent shot into the top right corner from 25 yards. County were boosted by the goal keeping their passing efficient and low to move Colchester about. On 55 minutes, County created an opportunity from a piercing move through the middle with Twine the architect threading a neat pass into Labadie but his effort from 20 yards went wide of the left post. County were close to a second goal on 60 minutes from a simple but effective down the left flank with Abrahams showing quick feet to feed a pass into Demetriou who overlapped well and his excellent cross was clipped just wide of the right post from 8 yards. Colchester were flat and made a double substitution just after with Brown replacing Norris and Poku on for Pell. Colchester started to push men forward more bodly and forced County back with Poku busy right side and Senior direct running left side. On 65 minutes, Brown span off a challenge by Dolan near the edge of the area and his low shot was well held by Townsend on the glossy surface. County continued to pick holes well right side with Amond making himself available with some clever runs off the last man. On 66 minutes, Amond did well to coax a foul by Noah Chivers and Dolan whipped in a vicious delivery to the front post forcing Gerken to claw the shot away. On 68 minutes, Harriot was again causing problems for County when his strength on the ball took him past Dolan and he blasted a decent effort from the right corner of the box forcing Townsend to parry around the right post. Colchester were effective on the break and became increasingly threatening in the final 20 minutes. On 75 minutes, a set piece delivery by Colchester from the left side saw Bramall direct a decent cross but Smith could only head wide of the left post from 10 yards. County responded with a decent move right side involving Shepherd and Abrahams in the right corner. Abrahams did well to shield the ball and caress a neat pass for Amond but his snapshot from 10 yards was intercepted by Eastman. Colchester made their final change on 78 minutes with Bohui maintaining the energy final third in place of Harriot. County were forced much deeper in the final stages with Colchester overlapping with several bold runs and their full backs up high but their crosses into the area were well marshalled. On 85 minutes, Senior made a strong run left side but was clipped by Shepherd in a threatening position left corner of the box. Senior took the free kick but ballooned the effort well over the bar. County made their first change moments later with Labadie replaced by Bennett. There were opportunities on the break for County but some poor decision making allowed Colchester to break up play and mount further breaks forward. Colchester kept pressing and got their reward on 89 minutes when Poku forced his way inside from the right corner and struck a powerful low shot from 25 yards. Townsend was behind the shot but unable to hold and the Brown reacted first to stab home inside the six yard box. County made an immediate change with Abrahams replaced by Willmott and went immediately on the offensive with a bold move left side. Haynes did well to deliver an excellent cross left side of the area which was diverted at the front post by Eastman with a tired clearance for corner. Twine swept over a decent corner into the six yard box and Demetriou rose well under pressure to head goalwards and despite his header being blocked Amond pounced to stab the ball home. County made a late change deep into injury time to run down the clock with Ellison replacing Amond. County held out to earn a deserved victory and maintain their pole position in league two.

Townsend (7) — gathered crosses well and distributed effectively from deep. made several good saves to fend off shots from distance late on but got punished for one mistake not holding the ball.

Shepherd (7) — put under pressure throughout by Harriot but matched him well and was quick to expose with balls in behind either side of half time. Provided some decent crosses when he got forward.

Haynes (8) — defended well throughout, quick minded and always vigilant to clear. Tackled well and stole forward into some decent positions and his crosses had real venom on them.

Demetriou (8) — dominated aerial duals and kept Norris quiet. Broke forward several times to overlap and instigate moves from third and provide decent crosses. Did well on winning goal unsettling defence.

Cooper (8) — astute with his defending, got a foot in to deny or intercept several moves and supported Shepherd well to stifle Harriot. Passed well throughout and had a couple of decent shots from distance.

Dolan (7) — had more time first half and coordinated some good moves from deep. Provided usual quota of decent set pieces but forced back late on and perhaps a little slow to close down on goal.

Sheehan (7) — got on the ball well first half and turned the screw for spells being at the heart of the best moves. Forced back second half to defend and track danger more.

Labadie (7) — always on a bit of knife edge after booking but competed well throughout, passed well and got ball from under his feet quicker. Had a couple of decent shots edge of box but lacked precision.

Twine (8) — probed through the middle well and was hard to mark picking blind spots. Forced deeper late on but was at the heart of both goals and unlucky not to score another from exquisite free kick

Abrahams (7) — hold up play was very good and turned provider with some excellent crosses from wide areas. Worked tirelessly and had chances from acute angles but failed to work the keeper

Amond (8)– took up some clever positions to pick holes and worked the left channel with energetic strong runs but chances were restricted before unfortunate knock.

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — they were compact and organised constructing some slick moves on the counter. Stay composed despite going behind and were comfortable passing low.

Weaknesses — both full backs were better going forward rather than defending. Left back got caught out of position several times. Lacked punch inside area and conceded several kicks

Opportunities — they sat in looking to flood players opportunistically using their pace well. Were even more bold late on with changes switching to 3–4–3
Threats — Harriot offered pace and quick feet, Senior trickery with ball at feet, Brown and Poku were robust and direct with shots on sight

OFFICIALS
P Wright (8) — controlled game well and handled spells of confrontation well. Kept game flowing and got key decisions right

MAN OF THE MATCH

Scott Twine — never allowed Colchester to rest and was intelligent with his movement and passing. Did well on both goals with execution key.

IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County managed the game pretty well tonight and it was only a rare lapse by keeper Townsend that threatened to undermine all the good work. Colchester sat in to suffocate the midfield and used their strengths pretty well but County kept their concentration and discipline well to tame the threat they had from pace. County should probably have been ahead at half time as they carved out several presentable chances and when they shifted the ball low and quick, not taking too many touches they had Colchester back peddling. County have improved the quality of their crosses this season and overall decisiveness in the final third and this was the overriding difference between the sides on the night. Next up are league two newcomers Harrogate Town who have made a solid undeterred start to the season. They have kept a solid defensive unit to limit sides but offer craft coming forward with Fakingham key link driving them in on midfield and Muldoon intelligent link play picking up bits and pieces inside the area with veteran striker Stead shielding outlet up front. They have generally gone with trusted 4–4–2 formula so it points towards a more open game.