Late goal by Telford rescues a point
Report from Mark Vickery
Venue: Broadfield Stadium
Crawley Town 1 (Appiah 55)
Newport County 1 (Telford 84)
Attendance: 1,483
Match Rating: **
Form:
Newport County LWdDDWLLWL
Crawley Town LWLLLLLLLW
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Crawley have been struggling with injuries at the back and poor form but they did break that duck at Barrow last Saturday so expecting them to have fight and spirit we need to match.
CONDITIONS
Mild, partly cloudy and light breeze. Pitch in decent condition and slick on top.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Huffed and puffed but didn’t really work the goalkeeper enough but showed spirit to get late goal
TURNING POINT
After Dolan injury County conceded cheap possession
THE MATCH
County made two changes with Kevin Ellison replacing Courtney Baker-Richardson who was on the bench and Ryan Haynes was also sacrificed for Aaron Lewis at left wing back. County worked some early moves from the back with Crawley playing like the away side sitting deep but they were keen to press mistakes through the middle of the pitch and this set a trend. County worked a couple of low smart moves shifting play side to side but Crawley were quick to stifle through the middle with Hessenthaler and Powell snapping like crocodiles. County were forced to deal with some direct balls Crawley threaded wide of the area with Appiah chasing down the ball. On 8 minutes, Appiah was late in a low challenge with Clarke and the County defender was forced into some treatment which he recovered from. County kept probing from wide positions where they made some better headway and a long throw on 12 minutes left side of the area was glanced on well by Ellison and only half cleared to Demetriou but his low volley from 12 yards lacked power to trouble Morris. Moments later, Crawley constructed a move from deep working the ball left side and Tilley used his pace well to get outside Norman who tangled with him to earn the first booking of the game. Crawley gained some confidence from their sporadic raids forward with Nadesan and Tilley lively in support of Appiah. County remained bold right side with Norman constructing some good moves to test Crawley left back Francombe and good move on 15 minutes saw Ellison find space in behind but he was denied by Craig when he cut inside near the edge of the area. County kept pressing right side and a corner on 20 minutes in the right corner was taken quickly by Dolan and cut back for Azaz. He had options but his cross come shot from the right corner of the area drifted wide of the left post. County remained patient not forcing play and when they switched tempo between fast and slow they caused problems with Cooper coming more into the game. Crawley continued to sit in and absorb pressure and play direct and more decisive move on 25 minutes saw Nadesan glance on header right side for Appiah to latch onto right side of the area. From an acute angle he thrashed an early shot into the side netting. County kept plugging away creating some good moves on the break with Crawley showing more of an appetite to push on. On 27 minutes, an excellent move right side saw Norman thread a low pass to the feet of Telford. He supplied a ball in behind for Azaz who crossed near the byline but the ball flashed through the six yard box eluding Ellison who was well positioned. The game remained scrappy and bitty in the middle of the pitch and another off the ball challenge by Appiah this time on Norman went unpunished on 30 minutes. County maintained their drive and were close on 32 minutes when Azaz supplied an excellent pass to pick out the run of Ellison who got in behind and under pressure from Francillette his shot from 25 yards was parried around the left post by Morris. On 36 minutes, County worked a quick move right side from a corner with Dolan finding Norman near the front post and he span and blasted a volley wide of the left post. Crawley made efforts to test County with some long balls as half time approached but they remained vigilant clearing their lines well under pressure.
Crawley made a change at half time to pep up their left channel with Ferry replacing Frost who left midfield and Tilley pushed up front with Crawley playing a more attacking 4–3–3. Crawley made their intentions clear with Tilley making some strong runs left side. Crawley persisted with direct play and Dolan was forced off on 53 minutes with a head injury contesting with Appiah who lead with a stray arm. The referee remained unmoved and County replaced Dolan with Cain who slotted into central midfield as County switched to 4–4–2. Crawley upped the tempo of their game and won a free kick on 55 minutes right corner of the area when Tilley was checked by Lewis. Powell took the free kick whipping in a decent delivery and Upson appeared to lose Appiah and was left with a simple header from 8 yards into the top right corner. Appiah was booked for excessive celebrations in the right corner and by the time play resumed County had replaced Ellison with Baker-Richardson. County made efforts to step up their game again with Cain and Azaz offering drive and energy but the pressure was intermittent. On 60 minutes, Azaz went on a bit of solo run left side of the area after a neat exchange with Lewis. He adjusted to curl an effort wide and high of the right post and bar when well positioned. With County forced to push on, Crawley became increasingly threatening in transition and caught County napping on 62 minutes. Ferry was allowed a free reign to attack the middle and thread a pass to left side for Francombe but his low curling effort from 25 yards was parried around the left post superbly by Day. Crawley made a change on 67 minutes replacing Tilley with former County player Reece Grego-Cox who went right side of midfield. County were struggling to deal with energy Crawley offered through the middle and another direct move on 70 minutes saw County under pressure when they were weak challenging allowing Appiah to spin off and release Ferry left side of the area. His early shot was powerful but went narrowly over left post and bar with Day scrambling across. Ferry was forced off moments later and replaced by Nichols who went into left midfield. The game became increasingly ragged with the space offered and some erratic refereeing threatening to unstable the game. On 75 minutes, County were left dumfounded when the referee ignored a clear foul on Upson inside the “d” and with County still appealing Crawley drove forward forcing Clarke make a desperate challenge on Nadesan as he broke the lines. Clarke was booked and the injustice appeared to lift County with them getting back on the front foot. On 77 minutes, Crawley were given warning when Cooper sprang forward from deep and Nadesan was forced into a crude tackle from behind getting himself in the book. County worked another decent move right on 82 minutes with Upson threading a low pass into the feet of Upson. He released Azaz but his effort from 25 yards was rising wide and hight of the right post and bar. County replaced Fisher for Upson moments later as they changed to 4–3–3. On 84 minutes, the pressure pot County created right side finally paid off when Cooper this time stole in right side of the area. He showed good awareness to find Telford with an inch perfect pass and he got his 12th league goal of the season with steering low into the left corner from 10 yards. County were boosted by the goal and another bright move on 87 minutes saw Norman overlap and dink a deeper cross which was just beyond Fisher lurking at the back post. Fisher was in the book on 88 minutes when County lost possession cheaply deep inside the Crawley half tracking back to deny the run of Davies. Crawley forced some late pressure with some direct play and County were forced into conceding a couple of cheap free kicks inside their own half. On 90 minutes, some sloppy play by County clearing their lines saw Francillette head into the path of Appiah who chipped a shot from 14 yards against the bar with Day just off his line. County were protesting again soon after that a foul on Azaz in the build up to move was totally ignored by referee. Crawley were forceful in injury time and with County struggling to put two passes together they sensed a vulnerability. On 92 minutes, Crawley worked an efficient move from left to right side of the area to find Grego-Cox who struck a decent effort from 25 yards which Day did well too forced around left post. Crawley put in a couple of shots from distance deep into injury never allowing County to relax and Lewis was booked after being forced into a late challenge on Nadesan. County held out in the seven minutes of injury time played for a point that seemed unlikely
Day (7) — not overworked but made a couple of excellent instinctive saves from in and around the box. Put under some pressure from kicks second half but got the ball safe.
Norman (7) — coped well after booking and carried threat through right side putting Francombe under pressure. Supplied plenty of good throws and linked play well.
Demetriou (6) — did his best to initiate some moves left side especially first half. lost out to Appiah a few times and got a bit bullied off the ball in the air. went close off a couple of set pieces.
Clarke (6) — didn’t have his own way in the air and appeared to be struggling a bit for mobility after early knock to leg. Cleared his lines well when under pressure.
Dolan (7) — influence was lost when he went off and delivery from set pieces and free kicks. Composed first half threading some passes long and short to pull the strings.
Lewis (6) — tackled well, made some sporadic raids forward and checked inside quite a lot but crosses lacking quality to worry Crawley defence.
Azaz (7) — instigated some of the better moves but got rushed on crosses which were wayward. Saw less of ball at feet late on and forced back.
Upson (6) — got on the ball first half and set up neat moves. Lost possession a bit cheaply especially second half before knock some him forced off.
Cooper (6) — didn’t get on the ball so much through the middle but competed well and timed his runs forward getting either side of the box. Supplied inch perfect pass on goal.
Telford (7) — quiet game, was well marked and kept at arms-length. Took goal well but turned provider a few times dropping off to play in others and was effective doing that.
Ellison (6) — had some spells where he got in behind using experience well to gamble and pick holes. Had a couple of half chances but kept working until he faded.
Strengths — they were effective blocking middle of the pitch and lively in transition. Worked hard to press across throughout and maintained energy.
Weaknesses — full backs left room especially left side and never really looked capable of defending a narrow lead. Got away with several clumsy off the ball challenges.
Opportunities — despite missing several defenders and little defensive cover, used system well and changed to 4–3–3 second half which kept County on the hop.
Threats — Appiah unsettled and decent in the air, Nadesan offered pace in behind. Nichols craft and creativity with crosses.
OFFICIALS
S Allison (4) — worst referee this season, lacked accountability to deal with the crude off the ball antics leaving foot in and blew up several times when advantage would have been better served.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Jack Powell (Crawley 8) — exterminated a lot of the threat through the middle and direct play forward in waves. Provided several useful set pieces, none less than on the goal.
IF YOU WERE JAMES ROWBERRY WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
County saw a lot of the ball but didn’t really show enough teeth to work the goalkeeper enough in this game with some sloppiness in their set pieces and general passing in midfield. Crawley set a trap by not pressing hard on the defenders but sitting deeper to win the ball and attack hard in transition. County need to manage the care they take of the ball especially through the middle as a lot of the build up play was good but very concentrated to wide positions and not enough industry through middle perhaps looking too much for the perfect goal. County had to adjust for injuries and knocks in the game which didn’t help with momentum but they really do need to adapt better in Dolan’s absence and as a result it made Upson more vulnerable and mistakes crept into the passing game. County worked some good measure passes down either side of the 18 yard box and when they shook hands with the byline they were always threatening, but perhaps not always on the same wavelength apart from the late goal. Next up is Colchester United away who have blown hot and cold this season using primarily a 4–2–3–1 system. Despite lacking experience in some quarters they do carry threat with Jasper offering an outlet either right or left side and former Ipswich striker Sears useful in the box. County need to offer more physicality box and box coax set pieces down the 18 yard tramlines as Colchester have some vulnerability on set pieces.
