County dig deep after a tough week

Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 2 (Thomas 8, Ajiboye 82)
Morecambe 1 (Edwards 79)

Attendance: 3,766
Match Rating: ***


Form:
Newport County DdWLLLLLDW
Morecambe LLWLWLLLLW


PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Despite kicking the can down the road on off field financial issues Morecambe have shown great spirit on the pitch, so key County match their work ethic and have patience to work chances.

CONDITIONS
Cool, clear periods and light breeze. Pitch in decent condition and slick on top.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Despite less control, kept resilience and focus and took the key chances better.

TURNING POINT
None

THE MATCH
County were forced into one change with Whitmore injured, Antwi came into the side in central midfield. There was another change with Baker-Richardson coming into lead the line in place of Martin who was on the bench. County switched to a more balanced 3–4–3 formation and settled into their rhythm quickly forcing Morecambe deep in the early stages. On 2 minutes, County went close following a neat switch of play when Antwi found Thomas right side and he threaded a low pass to Ajiboye right side of the box. He chipped in a deft cross from the near the byline and a loose clearance was volley goalward by Thomas from 10 yards forcing the keeper Burgoyne parry around the left post. Morecambe elected for direct moves using Salford loanee Dackers as an aerial outlet. County absorbed the threat well with Clarke and Baker making some strong leaps to contain the threat and they worked the ball in transition with some neat low passes. County took the lead on 8 minutes following a move left side which McLoughlin initiated finding Kamwa near the left corner of the box. He cut inside and curled a decent low effort from the edge of the area which Burgoyne found too hot to handle and Thomas showed great anticipation to turn home the rebound from inside the six yard box. Morecambe responded with some forceful moves right side using new loan signing Andrew Dallas from Barrow as an outlet. Morecambe were rewarded with some corners right side and went close on 13 minutes when a corner from right side by Cooke was glanced on by Dackers and Hope saw his header from inside the six yard under pressure from Baker clip top of the bar. On 15 minutes, Hendrie made a positive run right side of the box for Morecambe exploiting space and his shot come cross was tipped away by Townsend and Hope couldn’t direct his header from an acute angle on target. Morecambe gambled pushing men forward leaving two at the back and County continued to unsettle attacking from deep with crude fouls on Ajiboye and McLoughlin interrupting the flow despite advantages being given by the referee. On 18 minutes, County had a great chance to extend their lead when Ajiboye made a piercing run through the middle leaving Stott static and his outstretched leg cynically stopped his run. An advantage was played by the referee with McLoughlin able to pick up the loose ball and he drilled a low shot from inside the “d” just wide of the left post. Stott escaped punishment despite the cynical and dangerous nature of the challenge to the amazement of the crowd. Despite not getting the calls, County maintained their energy well final third with an efficiency that Morecambe struggled to contain. On 23 minutes, County created an excellent patient move deep inside the Morecambe half and Kamwa caressed a ball across the face of the area for Ajiboye. He adjusted well but his half volley went wide of the left post and bar. Morecambe continued to concede free kicks at will and County had another decent opportunity on 25 minutes from a set piece left side. Glennon swept in teasing cross into the box and Cameron Evans was alert glancing a decent header from 10 yards just over the bar. Morecambe persisted with direct play to test County with Dackers using his tall frame well to win headers and glance the ball in behind but the County defence protected well with Baker and Cameron Evans making some good clearances. On 36 minutes, County had another decent situation following a free kick right side which Thomas delivered well and the ball sat up invitingly for Baker-Richardson dragged his shot from 12 yards wide of the left post. Morecambe had a series of corners as half time approached and went close on 40 minutes following a short corner right side. With County caught sleeping, the deep cross found Dackers and his lay off to the edge of the area invited Dallas to shoot but his low effort went wide of the right post. Morecambe were keen to use their right side forcing County back with right back Hendry purposeful. On 42 minutes, Morecambe worked a low move in tight situation right side and Hendrie was left untracked right side of the area but his low shot from 14 yards was well saved low down by Townsend. County had opportunities to counter left side with Morecambe pushing high right side and they threatened on 44 minutes when a Morecambe throw in fizzled out. Ajiboye broke down the left side and coaxed Tutonda into a reckless challenge and he was booked. On 45+2 minutes, Morecambe caused problems again right side when a cross field pass caused problems when Dackers won a glancing header near the right corner of the box. Hendrie seized on the loose ball and his low shot was well blocked by Clarke and County got the ball safe.

County started the second half slowly conceding territory to Morecambe with some poor retention and thought with the ball. On 47 minutes, County had Antwi booked unnecessarily following a handball right side and Morecambe were able to test County with a free kick in a decent position right side of the box. Cooke took the set piece and pinpointed Dackers but his header from 10 yards was well held by Townsend. Morecambe were keen to press up higher and push more aggressively in midfield with Songo’o and Cooke leading the charge. On 50 minutes, County were given a warning when Morecambe pickpocketed the ball in midfield Songo’o threading a quick pass to Cooke. He drove forward and threaded a pass left side of the area but from an acute angle the rash shot went wide of the left post. Morecambe made a change on 53 minutes hauling Hope off early to be replaced by Edwards. Morecambe kept plugging away right side with Hendrie busy and knitting some good moves deep in the County half. On 56 minutes, Hendrie cut back a clever ball to the right side of the box for Cooke to latch onto but his snapshot was intercepted by Clarke. The crosses continued to flood in and Morecambe were close again on 60 minutes when Hendrie delivered a deeper cross and stretching Dacker directed his header back from 10 yards but Townsend was equal to it. After being under pressure, County had a great chance to extend their lead on 63 minutes when Morecambe left just defender back and Glennon picked out Baker-Richardson in space near the “d”. Morecambe recovered well to deny space but his lay off invited Ajiboye to shoot from 20 yards but his shot was just wide of the right post. Morecambe made another change soon after with former County left back Adam Lewis replacing Tutonda. County had another decent opportunity on 67 minutes following a corner left side which eluded everyone and Thomas directed a header back into the six yard box. Morecambe managed to hook the ball partially away but Baker directed a good header right side which Baker-Richardson seized upon ahead of Stott but with the keeper committed his lob from 10 yards dropped narrowly wide of the right post. County made another change on 72 minutes with Baker-Richardson replaced by Martin. Morecambe got their reward on 79 minutes following a free kick right side by Cooke which pinpointed Stott and his header into the six yard caused anxiety clearing. Dallas and Songo’o both had efforts blocked before Edwards reacted well to stab home from inside the six yard box. County responded well going back on the front-foot and were close to restoring their lead on 81 minutes following a fast move right side. Thomas initiated the move and made a well-timed run right side before cutting back an excellent low pass to find Ajiboye but his first time low effort from 12 yards was saved by the keeper. County exposed Morecambe ruthlessly moments later when they turned defence into attack when Morecambe move broke down cheaply. Glennon was the architect with a superb measured pass into the area which went over Stott. Ajiboye showed great calmness to control and kill the ball before slotting low into right corner from 8 yards. County made another change on 85 minutes with Kamwa replaced by Hudlin. Morecambe were denied an equaliser on 87 minutes when a quick move near the left corner of the box saw Edwards deliver a neat cross into the area which Dackers won with a clean header from 10 yards but Townsend reacted superbly tipped around the right post and bar. County made a change soon after with Thomas suffering a slight knock and he was replaced by Jameson. County worked some direct moves in the final stages using Hudlin as an outlet and despite winning some good headers, County were a little slowing reacting to win the second ball. Morecambe made a double substitution in injury time replacing centre back Stott with Tolitt and Lewis on for Songo’o. In the 8 minutes of injury time, County were happy to run the clock down with Hudlin holding the ball in the corner. Morecambe put in some hopeful crosses with Lewis and Hendrie ask questions but County held on well to gain an important win and extend their unbeaten run to three games.

Townsend (8) — put under pressure on some kicks which went astray but made some important saves from Dackers from close range. Safe with his handling
Thomas (7) — contributed to some good moves first half and got back post to finish chance well. put under pressure second half, forced deeper but did well when he got tight to deny crosses

Baker (7) — coped well with Dackers on direct balls to squash aerial threat but lost out on some set pieces. Did well to mop up in behind and cleared effectively.
C Evans (7) — keep vigilance on direct ball and despite being put under pressure adjusted well and made some important clearances and blocks and went close on set piece.
McLoughlin (7) — competed well in the air and on the floor and received little protection on the end of some treatment. Creative first half but forced back second half seeing less possession.
Glennon (7) — had a good battle with Hendrie and got forced deep on times. Worked hard box to box and showed capability to find effective crosses from deeper positions as on the winner.

Clarke (8) — marshalled direct threat well and won some strong headers to clear danger. Kept defence focussed in open play and cleared lines well under pressure.
Antwi (7) — was at the heart of the best moves first half, saw ball early and showed good vision with his switches of play and quick feet to break lines. Got pushed back deeper second half.
Kamwa (7) — had spells when he got on the ball and often did better with dynamic runs from deep using pace to counter. Carried ball strongly and needs to get more shots in goal.
Baker-Richardson (7) — challenged well across the line and worked Morecambe centre backs well. had a great chance to extend lead but starved of supply from crosses into box.
Ajiboye (8) — busy game, when he received ball early into feet caused problems with his pace and trickery. Good assist on first goal and had further chances before calm finish to seal win.


SWOT ANALYSIS (Morecambe)
Strengths — they showed collective spirit and were efficient in the turnover. Caused problems on set pieces and opportunist crosses into the box.
Weaknesses — over cooked the direct play. Did show more patience to play second half and had more possession but lacked technical nous.
Opportunities — were passive and predictable first half and gambled leaving just two defenders back with full backs pushed higher which forced County deeper.
Threats — Dackers aerial prowess off set pieces. Dallas and Hendrie manufactured some good moves and crosses right side. Lewis crosses left side late on.

OFFICIALS
C Brook (6) — lenient in punishments with consistent which allowed game to flow but some of the interpretations of advantage were questionable and should have booked Stott first half


MAN OF THE MATCH
David Ajiboye — had chance of hat trick, took up some good positions to unsettle and direct runs first half caused problems. Made the winner look easy with the exquisite first touch.


IF YOU WERE NELSON JARDIM WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County have had a productive week with 7 points from 9 and despite getting just a draw at Salford City they learnt a lot about themselves and their resolve and appetite to defend under spells of pressure. The 3–4–3 formation worked better today and County should really have been more than one up at half time. They were effervescent and snappy in transition limiting their touches and mixed up their passes well with short and direct balls to feet. Whilst the first half performance was commendable, for some reason County relaxed at half time and need to find a way of coming out more fired up, as they allowed Morecambe to press up and dictate territory and throw in too many crosses from both flanks. County managed to recover and deal with the crosses relatively well from “open play” but their defending on set pieces was often lax and they need to show more desire to win first contacts. The lack of control and giving up possession allowed Morecambe to build momentum and County need more assertiveness in central midfield. Next up is Crewe Alexandra away this Saturday. Crewe are likely to play 3–5–2 or 3–4–3 formation with former County striker Omar Bogle an outlet with supporting creativity from Long left side and pace runs Tracey right side. Crewe have plenty of ammunition but they can be overzealous and leave opportunities so key County are vigilant and time their moves decisively.