County serve Cheltenham victory on a plate

Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 0

Cheltenham Town 3 (Taylor 30, Williams 53, Archer 82)

Attendance: 4,987
Match Rating: ***


Form:
Newport County LLLLDWWWWd
Cheltenham Town LdWLWdWLLW


PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Cheltenham have improved during the course of the season but their away form is very indifferent so key County assert their game to play in the final third.

CONDITIONS
Mild, with sunny spells and light breeze. Pitch in decent condition despite number of recent games.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Flattered to deceive, showed early promise but lights went out after conceding.

TURNING POINT
Cheltenham opening goal against run of the play lifted them.

THE MATCH
County were forced into one change with Ajiboye not in the squad allowing Martin his second start since signing. County probed away well in the early stages being thwarted by a couple of offsides when the ball was worked wide of the Kamwa. On 5 minutes, County had a good situation left side when a quick kick from Townsend released Kamwa left side and he outwitted Cheltenham right back Power. From the left side of the box he provided an opportunity for Baker-Richardson but his snapshot from 10 yards was well blocked by Stubbs. Cheltenham elected for some direct play to test County using Taylor as a pivot to bring in other players and set up crosses but the delivery lacked quality. County continued to probe away working some good low moves with Baker-Richardson dropping off and drag Cheltenham centre back Stubbs out of his comfort zone. On 8 minutes, County had another decent opportunity when Baker-Richardson peeled off to coordinate a decent move and find Kamwa. He cut inside to shoot and despite the effort being blocked Martin was quick to snap up the ball and drill a low shot from 25 yards forcing former County keeper Day into a save. The game was scrappy on times with several fouls impairing the flow of the game with County having more of the ball but Cheltenham keeping them at arms-length. On 20 minutes, County had a great chance to take the lead when they switched play well from left to right with Antwi working a low pass to Martin. He adjusted well to drill a low shot from 20 yards narrowly past the left post. Cheltenham worked a couple of decent moves right side with Jude-Boyd advancing higher up the pitch but the crosses into the area remained hopeful. County kept getting on the ball but were caught napping on 30 minutes losing ball just inside the Cheltenham with Martin losing the ball cheaply. Williams darted forward to exploit space with Thomas and Evans not compacting the space quick enough. From a tight position, Williams managed to deliver a deft cross into the six yard area and Taylor got ahead of Baker to poke the ball home. County made efforts to pick up their game and they created a decent chance on 35 minutes with Kamwa floating back a decent cross near the left byline but County had nobody bursting a gut to punish and the ball flashed through. Cheltenham kept plugging away and were more decisive going forward especially with passing errors creeping into the County build up play. On 38 minutes, Cheltenham were close when some casual play in midfield by County saw the ball snapped up by Archer and Williams cross into the six yard box caused problems for County clearing first time. With County lacking alertness, from acute angle Taylor directed a decent shot which went wide of the right post and bar. Despite winning several corners first half, the delivery was weak on times allowing Cheltenham off the hook and they were quick to get the ball to safety or use Taylor has an outlet which kept Clarke and Evans busy. County kept plugging away but continued to be frustrated by some decisions with a lot crude pulling and clambering going unnoticed by the officials. On 44 minutes, Baker-Richardson let frustration get the better of him when another decision went against him and he was booked for protesting. On 45+2 minutes, County had a glimmer of a chance when a cross by Martin right side pinpointed Baker-Richardson but his stretching header from 10 yards drifted wide of the right post.

County made a disappointing passive start to the second half allowing Cheltenham to seize the initiative with Taylor and Williams continuing to cause problems with their link play. On 53 minutes, Cheltenham made the most of another gift by County when a harmless ball through the middle raised little concern and Townsend appeared to have the ball under control coming off his line but his rash clearance got deflected into the path of Williams. He adjusted superbly to hit a first time volley on the turn from 30 yards which looped over Townsend and into the empty net. County made a double substitution on 57 minutes with Evans and Martin sacrificed for Whitmore and Greaves. With County chasing the game, they opted for more direct approach using Baker-Richardson but this was well contained by Cheltenham with Stubbs effective if not somewhat oppressive with his pressing. County had appeals for some of the crude play waved away with both the referee and linesman right side ignoring much of the pulling. On 62 minutes, County had a great chance to get a goal back when Greaves did well to carry his strong run to the right byline. He clipped back a precise cross to Baker-Richardson lurking back post but despite missing the target there was some indiscretion inside the six yard when Day was blocked by Whitmore. Cheltenham made a double substitution to batten down the hatch with Bennett replacing Taylor and Kinsella on for Williams with Archer pushed up front as the lone striker. County responded by bringing another attacking option with Bony going up front in place of Thomas as County switched to 3–4–3. Cheltenham finally had a player in the book on 75 minutes when Archer caught McLoughlin late as he angled his run to attack down the right flank. County offered a bit more edge to their game in the final 15 minutes with Whitmore offering verve and strong runs right side. On 78 minutes, Whitmore did well to fend off a challenge left side of the box and cut inside near the left byline and despite the cross being blocked his follow up header was then blocked by Bennett. County were caught out again on 82 minutes, when some indecision allowed Archer to seize the ball and turn off a challenge cheaply. Clarke got coaxed into conceding a free kick right corner of the box which was taken quickly and with County in a coma, Archer cut inside a drilled a low shot from 20 yards past Townsend. Baker-Richardson then got a second booking for contesting the version of the events with the referee. Cheltenham threatened to extend their lead with County at sixes and sevens and another booking followed for Kamwa on 85 minutes for blocking the run of Jude-Boyd. Cheltenham made a triple change on 90 minutes with Miller, Dulson and Dieng replacing Power, Hay and Young. In 7 minutes of injury time, County struggled for cohesion and Cheltenham flirted with some chances inside the box but were denied by some good interventions by Baker and Clarke. Cheltenham held comfortably for their first league win away since October.

Townsend (5) — not one of the his better days. Kicking was erratic on times, rash error on second goal not communicating with Evans and slow to react and organise on third goal.
Thomas (6) — quiet game, saw little verve and threat to get outside his man. Did well in the air but lacked purpose and loose with marking on the first goal. Replaced early.

Glennon (6) — started well and got on the front foot but struggled to get past Jude-Boyd and deliver crosses. Another player well off his recent level of performances

Baker (6) — was the more accomplished defender and dealt well with the aerial balls but let himself down switching off defending cross in the six yard box on opening goal
C Evans (5) — done a decent job right side but looks in need of a rest. Allowed Taylor too much space to build play and not aggressive enough and got caught in confusion on second goal.
Clarke (6) — forced to deal with a lot of direct play and runs which were left untracked. Won some good headers and got himself between player and ball but tired late on.
Martin (5) — had a promising start knitting best moves final third and went close several times with shots edge of the area. Showed naivety playing in the wrong area and got pickpocketed.

McLoughlin (6) — looked weary and never got his head up. Uncharacteristically untidy with some short passes and got forced deep second half until he went right back.
Antwi (7) — probably the best County player, got brushed off some challenges too easily but when he got the ball he was effective and would like see him play further forward to effect play
Kamwa (5) — started brightly and got on the front-foot but became a liability when he dropped deep. needs to either get the ball early and play on the break or get in position for quick pass.
Baker-Richardson (4) — started brightly dropping off well to link and had some decent chances inside box. Frustration grew when things went against him questioning the parity of decisions.


SWOT ANALYSIS (Cheltenham Town)
Strengths — never really had to do anything special. Organised with their defensive shape and won the first contacts well. decisive with their moves final third.
Weaknesses — left gaps at the back and got away with several clumsy challenges by lenient officials. Centre backs lacked pace when span around.
Opportunities — they never really shifted tactics and didn’t have to. Worked hard off the ball and pressed up higher to force mistakes suffocating space.
Threats — Taylor made intelligent runs into pockets, Williams crosses and eye for a snapshot. Best moves went through Young. Jude-Boyd verve and crosses right side

OFFICIALS
J Simpson (5) — lenient, ignored most of the clambering and clear pulling back. More annoying was some of interpretation to encourage advantage when there was none.

MAN OF THE MATCH
Ethan Williams (Cheltenham №16) — his strong runs and trickery with the ball County found hard to manage. At the heart of all the goals and third goal was reward for solid display.

IF YOU WERE NELSON JARDIM WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County have had a good February overall and conversely Cheltenham didn’t really travel to Rodney Parade with any confidence with a poor away form, but they dominated this match after scoring first. County edged the opening 20 minutes, working the penetrative chances but lacked a cutting edge. Despite winning several corners first half they were predictable and limp which again gave Cheltenham further belief to push on. County were slow to react to the danger Cheltenham offered in transition, but more importantly lost out on too many 50–50s and lacked passion to do the dirty work, which end up as ball watching. County have conceded too many goals this season inside the six yard box and the first goal was similar to the one conceded at Port Vale when Baker switched off. County were missing invention largely due Adiboye being absent meaning they offered little threat right side and McLoughlin was also off the pace in midfield. County ended up playing very narrow and over-reliant on Kamwa left side which conditioned Cheltenham right back Power to push up and squash moves quickly. County became decisive turning back into danger with the midfield lacking control. County need to find the balance by putting McLoughlin right back and put Whitmore into midfield. Cameron Evans has done well deputising at centre back but looked brittle today and there is case for introducing Warner or Jameson to allow Baker to play on his more favoured right side. Next up is Doncaster Rovers away on Saturday and County need to quickly put this game behind them. Doncaster are likely to play a 4–2–3–1 system with Ironside up top and will take risks with Molyneux making strong with runs right side in tandem with Sterry. Doncaster do give opportunities and leave gaps so this could end up a basket ball game but County need to get the first goal and make them chase the game.