County still top of the tree at Christmas

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 2 (Twine 8, Bennett 41)

Oldham Athletic 4 (Keillor-Dunn 14, McAleny 58, McCalmont 85, Dearnley 90+3)

Attendance:

Form:

Newport County WLWWDWDWLD

Oldham Athletic WLWWWLWLWL

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Oldham have best away league record in league two so County need to manage this game well. As good as Oldham have been coming forward they have let in more goals.

CONDITIONS
Bright spells with blustery light showers. Pitch has been degrading week on week and bobbly in parts

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Charitable, second best today classic Jekyll and Hyde performance.

TURNING POINT
Amond penalty missed deflated County and lifted Oldham

THE MATCH
County made a couple of changes with Jamie Proctor and Lewis Collins replacing Padraig Amond and Tristan Abrahams who were on the bench. There was another change with Robbie Willmott continuing in place of Matt Dolan who was on the bench. County changed from their 3–5–2 formation to 4–2–3–1 with Proctor lone player up top with Collins, Twine and Willmott just behind. The early stages were passive with both sides feeling their way into the game and neither looking assured on the pitch that was cutting up after recent deluges. Oldham were direct in the early stages using Wrexham loanee Bobby Grant effectively who bounced off a few challenges. On 5 minutes, an efficient Oldham direct move from deep saw Grant lay off well into the path of McAleny who blasted wide of the left post from 25 yards. County made efforts to counter this using Proctor who showed some neat touches but the approach was more laborious allowing Oldham centre pair of Clarke and Piergianni to stifle the threat. Oldham continued to use Grant at every opportunity and both Cooper and Haynes ended up receiving treatment following some robust challenges. On 8 minutes, County took the lead from their first real threat after a good move right side involving Shepherd and Willmott. The ball was threaded inside by Sheehan for Twine who struck an immaculate effort into the top right corner from 25 yards. Oldham continued to lap up the direct play by County and shift the ball with some good moves right side with Bahamboula making some bursting runs. On 12 minutes, Demetriou suffered a knock in an aerial challenge and had to receive treatment for several minutes. Demetriou was able to return but possibly still recovering Oldham got a ball back on 14 minutes when County switched off defending their left side. Haynes lost out in an aerial challenge with Jombati left side of the area and Keillor-Dunn stole possession ahead of Demetriou near the left byline and his shot from an acute angle appeared to catch Townsend unaware. County responded with some patient build up play and they were worked their passes well to feet. On 17 minutes, Twine was tackled late by Jombati in a decent position left side of the area after a neat move across the face going through several players. Twine curled the free kick left side but keeper Lawlor was alert holding well. County kept passing with Oldham biting at several challenges which went unpunished and were close again on 21 minutes when a patient move saw Proctor manufacture space for Twine to shoot left side of the area but his effort drifted wide of the right post. On 25 minutes, some indecision by County in the middle of the pitch saw Sheehan play a nervous pass short allowing Borthwick-Jackson to pinch the ball. His quick pass found Grant in space despite three County players in close proximity and his snapshot from 20 yards was saved low down by Townsend. County became increasingly anxious with some of their passes going astray and Oldham thieving the ball to exploit space well in transition. On 36 minutes, County were given another warning when another poor pass in midfield by County was snatched and Oldham shifted a quick pass left side by Keillor-Dunn to exploit space. McAleny had acres of space to attack left side of the area but he somewhat rushed his effort from 18 yards which went over the bar. County responded with a good move right side on 40 minutes with Willmott driving forward to the right side of the area and his cross at the front post found Proctor but his effort was blocked well by Piergianni. County took the lead again moment later from a clever move from a deep position when Twine picked out a run from Bennett who took a great first touch just inside the area and slotted low past Lawlor. On 45 minutes, County had a great chance to go further ahead when Shepherd made a well timed run from deep to the right byline. From a tight position he cut back an excellent deep cross which picked out Collins unmarked but he could only stab his effort wide of the right post.

Oldham made a change at half time replacing left back Borthwick-Jackson with Barnett. County kept probing away with Twine causing plenty of problems for Oldham through the middle of the pitch. On 48 minutes, County worked a low move through the middle with Sheehan instrumental in finding Twine who carried the ball strongly only for his effort from the edge of the area to be blocked by handball from Clarke. He received a booking but the free kick by Twine was curled just wide of the left post. County remained on top with some moves also fruitful when they made the ball stick. On 52 minutes, Proctor did well left side to bring the ball down and thread a pass left side for Haynes. He cut back a decent cross from the flank but County had nobody in the box to benefit from it allowing Oldham to clear. On 55 minutes, County were close when Collins drove into a decent position left side and his low cross was stabbed wide of the left post by Proctor when he should have worked the keeper. Oldham were positive coming forward when invited and issued another warning moments later when Jombati overlapped right side and was left untracked by County. His cross into the box was cut back well and a late run into the area by Garrity presented an opportunity to head first time from 12 yards but it went straight at Townsend. On 57 minutes, County had a corner right side which Willmott pinpointed Demetriou and his header from 10 yards was cleared off the line by Barnett. Oldham caught County out moments later when a weak County cross was cleared and a quick pass out from deep by Keillor-Dunn was allowed to drop. McAleny seized possession and exploited gaps through the middle before unleashing an excellent effort into the top right corner from 30 yards. County made a change soon after with Proctor somewhat surprisingly sacrificed for Amond. Oldham gained confidence with County struggling to keep the ball final third with the Oldham defence snapping up possession. County were given another warning on 65 minutes when they forced deep and some tired looking clearances were picked up by Oldham. McAleny was quick to drill in a low shot from 18 yards which Townsend read well low down. County worked some better moves left side for a time forcing Oldham to defend with Bahamboula counter threat right side. County had a couple of corners left side and had another decent chance on 68 minutes when Willmott directed a left sided corner deep and Cooper directed a good header back into the six yard box but Collins appeared to air kick when very well positioned. County made a double substitution moments later with Collins and Willmott replaced by Devitt and Ellison. County kept plugging away and a decent low move on 70 minutes involving Shepherd and Devitt right side of the area coaxed a foul from Keillor-Dunn and the referee awarded a penalty. Amond took the spot kick but his shot to left side was read well by Lawlor who parried the ball away and Ellison blasted well over from an acute angle. Oldham made an attacking change soon after to underline their intent with Dearnley replacing Grant and McCalmont on for McAleny. On 75 minutes, Amond had a chance almost immediately to redeem himself when a direct kick by Townsend was seized upon and he found himself running goalside of the last defender but he appeared to scuff his shot from the left corner of the area. County kept plugging away with Sheehan pulling the strings well but the Oldham defence remained vigilant and they were able to counter effectively especially right side with Bahamboula supported with the pace of substitutes Dearnley and McCalmont. On 80 minutes, Oldham again threatened with a counter attack from the right side after Haynes lost possession cheaply left side of the area. Bahamboula drove forward into acres of space right side and his cross found McCalmont but his snapshot was well blocked by Bennett. Haynes booked moments later for a mistimed challenge and Ntambwe followed in book for Oldham for a crude challenge. Oldham took the lead on 85 minutes when a direct kick by Oldham caught County sleeping and a weak header by Cooper was seized upon by McCalmont and he slotted neatly into the right corner from 25 yards just beyond the grasp of Townsend. County introduced another change soon after with Haynes replaced by Abrahams with County adjusting to 3–4–3. County pushed but were increasingly vulnerable to the break with Oldham working the space offered right side well. Oldham made another change on 87 minutes with defender Hamer replacing Bahamboula. On 88 minutes, Oldham went close again when a long throw right side of the area was not dealt with by County and Dearnley scooped a shot against the bar from 8 yards. On 90 minutes, County had a half chance when a corner right side by Twine sat up but Amond drove a half volley from 14 yards well over. Oldham added a fourth in injury time from some charitable play by County with them forcing play in the final third and Cooper had his pass intercepted by Keillor-Dunn and his quick pass found Dearnley. He made the most of the space offered to drive forward and caress a low shot into the right corner from 20 yards beyond Townsend. County huffed and puffed in remaining 6 minutes off injury time but Oldham looked the more likely to add to their lead with the pickpocketing mistakes and Dearnley and McCalmont attacking well on the break.

Townsend (6) — well beaten on shots from distance. Dealt well with crosses and made a couple of smart saves low down. Distribution was a little slow on times

Shepherd (7) — was quick with his exchanges and link play providing fair quota of crosses which deserved better. Best moves went through him on the day.

Haynes (6) — passive game and struggled to make usual impact final third being forced back by Bahamboula. Got beaten to easily in some of the aerial challenges

Demetriou (5) — seemed to suffer after a few knocks early in the game and was forced back to clear in behind and never really got on the front-foot

Cooper (6) — was put under some pressure in aerial duals, looked tired late on making some unforced errors, lacked usual precision and composure on the ball.

Willmott (6) — had some spells when he was effective working corners but didn’t pick up on enough of the knock downs, restricted on provided crosses and bugged by indecision.

Bennett (6) — did a decent job breaking up play and strong in the aerial duals, but struggled to contain pace though the middle. Took his chance well with a late run

Twine (7) — had an excellent hour when County were in control of the game, quick minded, picking holes and always a threat with shots and set pieces taking goal well.

Sheehan (7) — coped with erratic pitch well, went on a number of direct runs to exploit space and did a lot of good work across the face of the area but restricted on shots.

Proctor (6) — did a decent job when he made ball stick and bring in other players but never really offered any threat, was taken off quite early and outlet was lost when he went off

Collins (5) — offered verve left channel for large parts of the game but unable to get beyond the right back enough. missed two presentable chances inside 6 yard box.

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — had game plan which they stuck to rigidly. Defensively sound stifling threat early and capitalised on County mistakes with clinical finishing.

Weaknesses — both full backs small in stature but not pressed. They offered plenty of space which didn’t get punished and got away with fair quota of cynical fouls.

Opportunities — they never really pressed that hard. Allowed County to play but enticed them into passing errors which they were quick to exploit. Late changes raised the bar with pace.
Threats — Grant was outlet to buy time, Bahamboula effective runs with pace right side, McAleny and Dearnley shots from distance.

OFFICIALS

R Madley (7) — experienced referee but was very lenient with some of the cynical challenges off the ball but generally consistent

MAN OF THE MATCH

Dylan Bahamboula — had immense stamina to work box to box and offer threat. Always gave Oldham an outlet when other areas were blocked by County and that was key.

IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County had a good start to the game and despite conceding a very charitable first goal they were in charge of this game for an hour and only lost control in the last 15 minutes. County had decent chances at 2–1 to extend their lead before the penalty miss and need to look at that first and foremost because they are not being clinical enough. The late changes raised the bar for Oldham and they are not the type of side you want to be chasing a game against with the pace they offered on the counter. County did look a little jaded today missing the presence of captain Labadie and they were not able to keep possession well enough final third. County knew Oldham would be effective in transition and with the game at 2–2 they needed to manage the game better despite not playing well. They became impatient with some nervousness with their passing allowing Oldham to pick off their mistakes and utilise their strengths to counterattack at will. The pitch is not going to improve at Rodney Parade but that was not the reason they lost today. It was their decision making. County need to keep belief in their passing game principles which has served them well this season, but the transfer window is going to be important as they do need a “Plan B” to change tact with a more physical threat to lock the ball down final third. There is not a vast amount wrong but they need to keep moving as a team and improve to retain the position they have earnt. Next up is Crawley Town who have been flexible this season fluctuating between playing 5–3–2 and 4–3–3. The vast majority of their goals have come through new signing Max Watters but the key is likely to be midfield where County can assert control and if they do they can work openings.