Farquharson off the mark

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 2 (Farquharson 43, 56)

Gillingham 0

Attendance: 4,300

Match Rating: **

Form:

Newport County LDWLWdDWLL

Gillingham DWDDLLDWLW

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Gillingham are struggling to make an impact since their relegation from league one with lack of goals main issue. County need to match their work ethic and seize on their chances.

CONDITIONS
Cool, partly cloudy and light wind. Pitch in excellent condition, slick on top.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Determined and resolute defending, struggled for cohesion but had extra quality inside the area.

TURNING POINT
First goal was always going to be key today.

THE MATCH
County manager Graeme Coughlan retained faith the same side that was edged out by Stockport County last weekend at Rodney Parade. County set a good tempo in the early stages with good moves in wide areas to work Gillingham who had mirrored County adjusting to a 3–5–2 formation. Aaron Lewis was at the heart some slick moves left side and forced a corner on 5 minutes left side which was diverted. Lewis did well to seize the loose ball and darted left side of the area before cutting back an excellent cross near the byline pinpointing Bogle in space. He span and drilled a low shot from 10 yards which Demetriou helped on forcing Gillingham keeper Turner into a save low in the left corner which appeared to creep over the line. County celebrated the goal but were let down by a poor decision by the linesman who was well behind the play and not able to make a decision as well as the referee. Gillingham responded with some direct moves to test County using Mandron as a battering ram but Farquharson and Drysdale marshalled the threat well. Gillingham set their stall to press up high and suffocate County moves with Bogle and Evans under pressure to keep the ball but a lot the play was scrappy. On 15 minutes, Gillingham stifled a move and broke quickly right side with Reeves but Moriah-Welsh did well to track back and recover with a decent tackle but was somewhat harshly penalised. Mandron was booked following the incident for a stupid intervention and dissent that followed. County worked their best moves when they showed steel to keep the ball low and efficient forcing Gillingham to catch their breath. County continue to work their best moves left side with Lewis and Demetriou on the same wavelength and Alexander was booked for a rash foul on 22 minutes taking out Lewis with a lunging foot. The contrast in styles continued with Gillingham launching long kicks from deep but County more thoughtful with their build up play but lacking a bit quality with the final ball. Gillingham gained some confidence from their resilience defending the box and made efforts to push up higher and gain some territorial advantage. On 30 minutes, County made a clearance which was loose and Wright struck an ambitious volley from 35 yards forcing Day into an excellent save and tip over the bar. Reeves took the corner which caught County napping at the front post and Williams saw his header strike the right post and with County struggling to clear Ehmer hooked a shot from 8 yards onto the top of the bar. County responded with more intensity right side with Norman coming into the game and they won a couple of corners right side. On 40 minutes, Lewis whipped in a decent corner right side which dropped deep and Drysdale got up with a towering header but he was unable to keep the header down when he should have worked the keeper. On 42 minutes, County were unlucky when they switched play well from left to right with Demetriou showing good vision to pinpoint the late run of Norman right side of the area. He ghosted in behind Baggot to dink a dangerous cross into the six yard box but was ruled out by a marginal offside. County kept pressing and won a corner left side on 43 minutes which Lewis took and his dipping delivery appeared to deceive Gillingham but Farquarshon stole in with an untidy header under pressure from 8 yards which crept into the left corner beyond the grasp of Turner. Gillingham responded with some pressure on the stroke of half time with some crosses into the area and central defender Wright showed his prowess to cross from deeper positions. On 45+2 minutes, Wright lofted a cross into the area following a free kick that broke down but Walker headed over from 10 yards under pressure from Farquharson.

Gillingham made a change at half time with right back Alexander replaced by O’Keefe and they upped their game again with some early pressure. On 48 minutes, Gillingham won a free kick left side which County could only half clear to the edge of the area to former County youth player Dom Jefferies who adjusted well but struck an effort well over from 20 yards. County responded with some direct play with Norman winning some aerial duals right side and they won some throw ins right side of the area. On 55 minutes, Demetriou launched a lower throw which Norman won at the front post but his header was narrowly wide of the left post. County won another long throw moments later with Demetriou looping his throw this time into the area and Farquharson got a slight touch to glance on with head into the left corner with the keeper Turner rooted the spot. Gillingham made a double substitution on 60 minutes with former Wycombe midfielder Scott Kashket replacing Ben Reeves and MacDonald on for Jefferies. On 62 minutes, Kashket wasted no time to influence with a move through the middle finding the run of Mandron left side who evaded Drysdale but he blasted wide and high of left post from 20 yards. Gillingham had the best chance of the game moments later when Wright delivered a cross from just inside the County half right side towards Mandron who despite getting no contact on the ball appeared to unsettle Farquharson and the ball dropped dangerously. O’Keefe anticipated the loose ball but his low shot from 12 yards was well saved in the left corner by Day. Gillingham went increasingly direct in an attempt to unsettle County but they held firm with Farquharson and Demetriou lapping up the aerial duals. On 66 minutes, Gillingham had another player in the book when a long ball was ushered to safety well by Drysdale and Walker was booked for protesting for a late foul. Gillingham made another change on 70 minutes with former County player Jordan Green replacing Walker and he went left to offer pace and verve. County were forced to make a change on 71 minutes with Norman picking up a knock and he was replaced by Dolan. County adjusted putting Moriah-Welsh right wing back with Dolan slotting into his customary central midfield role. County kept competing well off the ball to deny Gillingham any sustained rhythm and they had Waite in the book on 72 minutes for a mistimed tackle on Williams. On 75 minutes, County had a chance out of the blue from a direct move with Drysdale pinpointing Bogle. He fended off a challenge from Baggott and set up Waite who did well to support the move. Waite exchanged passes to set up Bogle but his low shot on the turn from 16 yards went just wide of the right post. On 80 minutes, County were given another warning allowing Wright to dink in a ball from a deeper position into the area and with County struggling to clear first time Kashket reacted first in the crowd but he poked his effort wide of the left post from 12 yards. County made another change on 82 minutes with Bogle replaced by Collins. Gillingham remained positive with the ball at their feet left side with Green offering energy but Moriah-Welsh was combative tracking his runs to stifle the threat. County made efforts to counter with some switches left side with Collins angling his run more comfortable to the flanks rather than through the middle. On 88 minutes, Collins did well left side with a tricky run near the byline and a he supplied a decent low cross which flashed dangerously across the six yard box eluding runs by Evans and Waite. Moments later County did well to catch Gillingham out when they worked a quick throw right side of the area and Evans threaded a pass inside for Waite in space but his effort from 25 yards dipped just over the bar. Gillingham pinged some long balls forward late on but appeared to run out of steam with County defence in command of the aerials balls clearing well under pressure. There was a late chance for County in injury time on 90+4 minutes when Lewis pressed up to find Collins left side of the area. He did all the hard work with a clever run inside beating Wright but his low shot on the turn was dragged wide of the left post. Moriah-Welsh was issued with late booking for County after delaying a throw in but they held out for an important win.

Day (7) — dealt well with crosses throw into the area, handling well and made important save to deny O’Keefe when defence switched off. Kicking was a bit erratic on times but got the ball safe.

Aaron Lewis (7) — offered plenty of verve first half and set up some good chances with good vision on crosses. Tackled and competed well, provided some good set pieces right side.

Farquharson (8) — got worked in the air throughout but dealt well with Mandron and swept up to clear the danger when needed. Reacted well to get on the end of set pieces with key goals.

Demetriou (8) — strong in the aerially and got stronger as the game went on. Initiated some good moves left side with neat distribution and provided usual quota of menacing low throws.

Drysdale (7) — getting game time and definitely benefitting from it with improved sharpness. Remained alert, cleared well under pressure and went close on couple of set pieces again.

Norman (6) — won some good headers but let down with ouch and finesse coming forward running into too many dead end. Defended well when he had to and let little goalside before injury

Bennett (7) — competed well in the aerial duals and showed composure to use ball when play was congested. Did a good job to avert danger and break up threat through the middle.

Moriah-Welsh (7) — got on ball first half and showed tenacity in tackles, recovering well when he lost the ball. Showed flexibility to cover Norman when he went wing back tracking Green well

Waite (7) — improved level of performance, supported strikers when under pressure and linked up on the better moves. Needs to be more greedy and put his foot through a shot when invited.

Evans (6) — worked hard across the line but found space at a premium and runs were restricted to outside the area. Did better when he got closer to Bogle but didn’t always read the pass.

Bogle (7) — did well back to goal and given little protection by the referee. Had a couple of good situations when he dropped off into good positions but shots lacked power and precison.

SWOT ANALYSIS (Gillingham)

Strengths — set pieces were decent and they offered some aerial threat, had spirit to keep going despite lack of cutting edge.

Weaknesses — prone to fouls when County kept better care of the ball. Persisted with chasing down direct ball and bits and pieces and discipline was questionable with a few cards.

Opportunities — they gambled on matching up to mirror County 3–5–2 and pushed defence Wright further forward to effect game second half providing crosses and more width.

Threats — Mandron decent in the air, Walker movement and pace in behind. Wright offered quality with precision on crosses.

OFFICIALS

O Yates (6) — reasonable game but failure to pick up the early County effort which was a foot over the line. Blew up early with some decisions not allowing advantage.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Priestley Farquharson — his first County goal has been a long time overdue but he enjoyed so much he got another. Defended stoutly throughout exterminating much of the direct threat.

IF YOU WERE GRAHAM COUGHLAN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County had some busy spells when they were well on top and with better quality inside the area and cuteness with the final ball or through ball, you felt this game would have been much more comfortable. Gillingham were very one dimensional and largely direct but didn’t waiver from their gameplan which kept the defence worked. The County centre backs played well today and with better control in middle of the pitch, County may well have profited much more in the turnover as when they kept the ball low and sharp they were effective. County did lose some influence in the midfield also when Moriah-Welsh switched to full back but he adapted well in that role. When forced deeper from direct play, County needed an outlet and Collins offered that in wide positions late on but he is clearly less comfortable when drifting inside with the retention of the ball lacking. Next up is Derby County in the FA Cup at Rodney Parade with the carrot of the third round dangling. Derby are likely to play a 3–5–2 formation using McGoldrick as an outlet but acting as decoy with Collins picking up bit and pieces. County need to track his runs but improve their patterns of play and quality final third by being more bold and getting men into the box with late effervescent runs.