Bogle brace and impressive team performance

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: EnviroVent Stadium

Harrogate Town 0

Newport County 4 (Bogle 4, 44, Nevers 22, Ramsay 9 own goal)

Attendance: 1,757

Match Rating: ***

Form:

Newport County DLWLLWW

Harrogate Town WLLdWLL

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
County have reverted back to the side that beat Tranmere last weekend and bench looks strong in comparison to Harrogate who have some injuries. Key County keep same desire and tempo as in last two games

CONDITIONS
Warm, sunny spells and light breeze. Pitch in excellent condition and quick on top.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Never looked back after early well taken goal working to keep clean sheet.

TURNING POINT
Harrogate were pressing to get back into game until second County goal.

THE MATCH
County made several changes from the side that beat Portsmouth in the League Cup mid-week with Nick Townsend replacing Joe Day who was on the bench. There were two changes in defence as Aaron Lewis came in a left back in place of Adam Lewis who was substitute and James Clarke replaced Priestley Farquharson who was rested. County changed their whole midfield with Robbie Willmott and Adam Wildig sacrificed to the bench with Sam Bowen who was rested allowing James Waite, Scott Bennett and Nathan Moriah-Welch to resume their partnership. County brought back Omar Bogle to partner Thierry Nevers up front with Chanka Zimba and Lewis Collins on the bench. Harrogate made the more forceful start with some neat moves going through their captain Josh Falkingham in central midfield who had returned from injury but County held firm. Harrogate were keen to test County with some moves right side pressing up high but they were caught out ruthlessly on 4 minutes. Demetriou was pressurised to turn back and defence a ball by Welch-Hayes right side. He did well to find Lewis near the left flank and he slipped an efficient pass which Bogle latched onto and carried his run behind fending off a challenge from Ferguson. From an acute angle near the byline Bogle placed a low shot into the right corner beyond Harrogate keeper Jameson. Harrogate persisted with direct balls right side to ask questions but County were having none of it breaking up play effectively and they were bright in midfield with some good exchanges involving Bogle. County extended their lead on 9 minutes doing well to press up in the middle of pitch to suffocate a Harrogate move left side. Norman did well to tackle Headley and a quick ball into Bogle right side of the area caused anxiety in the Harrogate defence. Waite stole with a well anticipated supporting run and Harrogate defender Ramsay, in a vain effort to avert the danger, deflected the ball into the net from just inside the area. County gained confidence from the goal with several good moves right side to test Harrogate who were struggling to clear their lines effectively. On 12 minutes, County won a free kick right side of the area after Norman had been checked by Mattock. Moriah-Welch whipped in a decent free kick but with nobody ready the keeper was allowed to make a comfortable claim under no pressure. Harrogate made efforts to pick up their game with left sided centre back Mattock initiating some decent moves from deep but County remained vigilant recovering to defend well. County were penetrative left side with Lewis and Demetriou combining well and Nevers a handful with some strong runs to win some throws left side of the area. County were close again on 16 minutes, when a Demetriou throw left side was weakly cleared by Harrogate and Bennett reacted well to address a first time effort from 12 yards which was intercepted by Ferguson. Harrogate made efforts to press harder but County combatted this with some efficient passing getting the ball from under their feet and finding the next man. On 22 minutes, County ruthlessly punished Harrogate when they pressed up but Norman did well to win his tackle right side. Following a great switch of play back through the middle Waite did well to stem the move and slipped a clever pass left side which Nevers latched onto and showed good composure to finish low under Jameson from 10 yards. County were energised by the goal and were close adding another on 28 minutes when Demetriou launched a long throw right side of the area which was only half cleared and Waite struck an opportunist first time volley on the turn narrowly wide of the left post. With Harrogate all over the shop defending, County worked a quick throw on 31 minutes right side with Norman combining with Moriah-Welch. The early cross from the right side of the area caught Harrogate sleeping and Bogle glanced his header from 10 yards just past left post and bar. Harrogate made efforts to test County with some crosses into the area to pinpoint Armstrong but they defended aerial balls well and were quick to turn defence into attack. County keeper Townsend delivered some accurate kicks right side to test Harrogate with Norman doing well in aerial duals with opposite number Headley. County added a fourth on 44 minutes in a simple move that saw Nevers do well to pickpocket Falkingham inside the centre circle. He threaded neat early pass through the middle for Bogle who precisely finished past the keeper from just inside the area. Harrogate flirted with goal in first half injury time with Muldoon angling a run right side but his effort from an acute was wide of the right post.

Harrogate made a triple substitution at half time to freshen the pack replacing both wing backs with right midfielder Frost replacing right wing back Welch-Hayes and Richards on for Headley at left back as the hosts changed formation from 3–5–2 to 4–4–2. There was another change in central defence with Burrell replacing Ferguson. The change settled Harrogate into a better shape defensively and they upped their efforts off the ball. On 47 minutes, Drysdale was in the book with a somewhat needless low challenge on Daly when he should have remained on his feet. From the resultant free kick hurled into the area, County couldn’t get a firm clearance and Armstrong hooked a shot over the bar from a half chance just inside the area. With Harrogate seeing the ball earlier, Waite was booked on 52 minutes after several mistimed challenges catching Falkingham late in low tackle on the right channel. Harrogate had a good spell of possession after half time without greatly troubling County from a couple of free kicks. County then made their own triple substitution on the hour with Drysdale and Waite replaced by Dolan and Wildig. There was another change up top with Collins introduced for Nevers. County made efforts to pick up their game again with Bogle picking holes with some strong runs right side. On 65 minutes, Bogle did well to combine with Collins and jink inside near the right corner of the box only for Burrell to prevent his run abruptly with a crude block. The referee ignored the appeals for a free kick and Bogle received treatment to recover but was eventually replaced on 70 minutes by Evans with what appeared to be a dead leg. County worked some more cohesive move right side but struggled to build penetration left side but Lewis did well to stifle threat Harrogate posed right side. On 75 minutes, a better low move by County right side saw Moriah-Welch show quick feet to win the ball and thread a pass inside for Collins. He weaved his run inside and blasted a decent effort from 25 yards just wide of the right post. Harrogate were forced into another change on 80 minutes with left sided defender Mattock replaced by Horbury. Harrogate remained busy left side with left back Richards offering an outlet and energy to force Norman back. On 82 minutes, Richards rode through a tackle down the left flank and struck an ambitious effort from 30 yards which clipped the top of the bar. County made another change on 85 minutes with Willmott on for Moriah-Welch. The final minutes were devoid of incident with both sides cancelling each other out and despite four minutes of injury time both keeper were untroubled but County were very good value for a clean sheet and comfortable win.

Townsend (7) — has very few clearcut saves to make. Handled well when tested and directed some good distribution from deep first half but less effective second half.

Aaron Lewis (8) — worked well with Demetriou to squash threat and distributed well especially on the first goal. Got in position quick and made key interventions to stifle crosses second half.

Demetriou (8) — dealt with aerial ball with good decision making when drop off. Mopped up play well and distributed well under pressure. Delivered several cutting long throws first half.

Drysdale (7) — alert to win his headers and strong in the challenge. Was comfortable with ball at feet but put himself under some unnecessary pressure after booking.

Norman (8) — forced mistakes first half to steal possession and provide energy. initiated move on second goal winning ball. got forced back deeper to defend second half.

Clarke (7) — read game well and went about his job quietly stifling threat well and let little goalside cleared well under pressure and remained focussed throughout.

Bennett (7) — proficient in the aerial duals and used ball well when he won it. Went close from some of the long throws reading loose ball. Forced deeper after half time

Moriah-Welch (7) — alive to the ball first half and was at the heart of several cutting moves. Competed well and made some stern tackles but saw less of the ball after half time.

Waite (7) — was very effective until his booking. Did a lot of good working knitting play first half and deserved a goal for his efforts. Kept working off the ball before being replaced early.

Bogle (8) — menace throughout and took up some good positions. Used his guile and strength well first half to cause problems final third before taking knock which impaired his running.

Nevers (7) — got himself early into some good positions and offered pace to stretch play and work opening with quick feet. Took his chance well and was missed when he went off quite early.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Harrogate)

Strengths — they pressed up to win the ball aggressively and when it was done collectively it was effective.

Weaknesses — struggled to find quality with set pieces and distribution with several passes and headers going astray first half. Both wing backs struggled to contain first half.

Opportunities — started 3–5–2 but adjusted to put extra man in midfield after half time and more effective playing 4–4–2 without being threatening.

Threats — Armstrong aerial duals, Muldoon was busy linking play final third. Both Mattock and Richards were forceful with runs left side.

OFFICIALS

C Boyeson (7) — quite lenient but consistent, was keen to let game flow and managed game well never allowing it too boil over. Missed a couple of late challenges on Bogle second half.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Omar Bogle — Harrogate struggled to contain him first half, got amongst defenders to unsettle offering strength and combined well with Never. Took chances very well and deserved hat trick.

IF YOU WERE JAMES ROWBERRY WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County got the opening goal which you felt would be pivotal today, but their desire to keep pushing first half was impressive not allowing the hosts to relax. Harrogate were focused on attacking right side first half, but County not only dealt with this pressure, their alertness to avert the danger caught out Harrogate several times when County counter pressed play. The transitional play and efficiency of passing was key to set up some decent chances which they took well. Despite Harrogate making tactical adjustments at half time, County showed their other ugly side to offer resilience and they defended their own box very well despite some disjointed pressure Harrogate offered left side after the break when Norman was pushed back deeper. Such was the dominance first half and drive to add goals it was not surprising their game dropped off the pace with the hosts rallying. One concern for County was seeing less of the ball than perhaps they would have liked especially second half but they kept doing the off the ball work which was important. Harrogate did offer more drive left side after half time which pinned County back in spells with Norman deeper but County can perhaps counter this scenario by getting their left sided players to influence when this happens. Next up is Exeter City in the EFL Trophy and another chance for County to reshuffle the pack and keep everyone fresh for the Grimsby league game where Bogle will be a marked man.