Late lapse denies County win
Report from Mark Vickery at Rodney Parade
Newport County 1 (Abrahams 46)
Cheltenham Town 1 (Tozer 86)
Attendance: 3,913
Form:
Newport County WWLWWLDLLD
Cheltenham Town dWDdLWDDLD
PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Cheltenham are missing some of their key strikers though injury and like County have struggled for goals recently. County need to do better with the ball and have patience to work openings.
CONDITIONS
Mild, partly cloudy and calm. Pitch was a little firmer and held up well.
SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Kept Cheltenham at arms-length for large parts but performance impaired by poor retention .
TURNING POINT
Squandered chances to go two up.
THE MATCH
County kept the same side that fought-back to draw at home against Orient. The early stages were lacking bite with Cheltenham marginally on top with some measured passes to pinpoint Campbell and Lloyd up top. County dealt with the threat well and an overzealous tackle by Campbell on Haynes when clearing his lines on 6 minutes saw the first booking of the match. County made efforts to counter with some direct play but were thwarted with a couple of offsides against Matt and Abrahams were slow to react to the clearance. Cheltenham were keen to use their left flank at every opportunity with wing back Hussey bold with his supporting runs and link. County struggled for cohesion allowing Cheltenham to break up play and attack from deep with both wing backs Hussey and Long prominent in the final third. On 15 minutes, Cheltenham created a decent move left side with Hussey again pivotal finding Lloyd. He cut back a decent cross from a difficult angle for Broom on the edge of the area. Despite the shot being blocked, Long was picked out quickly by Tozer right side of the area but his snapshot was intercepted well by Demetriou. County had a couple of decent opportunities to counter with Cheltenham full back pushed extremely high but the choice of pass was letting them down on the times with Abrahams and Matt not getting the best service. On 25 minutes, County had a decent situation from a low move right side with Labadie finding Sheehan right side and he carried a strong run before slipping a low pass to feet to find Matt right corner of the area. He turned inside to beat Greaves and his shot on the turn from 16 yards was blocked well by Boyle. County were nearly caught out when Cheltenham broke immediately with Thomas finding Tozer in space through the middle. He worked a good pass right side for Campbell who checked inside and blasted an opportunist effort from 25 yards which deflected off Demetriou and wide of the right post. Cheltenham continued to probe away but County held firm and opening did arise from space invited left side with Abrahams coming into the game. On 35 minutes, Abrahams did well to keep the ball in deep in the left corner and provide a pass back to Matt who was held back by Thomas. Haynes directed a decent cross into the area which Labadie ghosted in to head from 10 yards but the ball went harmlessly wide of the right post. On the stroke of half time, County had an even better chance when Abrahams drove into the left corner before cutting back a decent cross to the front post which Labadie poked goalward but his effort hit Matt in the face. Moments later, County had another chance from a cutting move left side when Nurse found Abrahams and he drove to the byline and pulled his cross back to the edge of the six yard box for Labadie but his effort was dragged wide under pressure from Boyle. Two minutes into injury time Cheltenham got away with a decision when Hussey appeared to stand on Matt when he held the ball on the floor. The referee ignored appeals for what looked a deliberate action and then left County incensed by booking Innis for a late challenge on Campbell deep in first half injury time.
County were forced into a change at half time with Demetriou replaced by Dolan who went into central midfield with Bennett dropping into central defence. County picked up the tempo and won a corner on 47 minutes right side after strong run by McNamara. From the resulting corner, County took it quickly catching Cheltenham out with Nurse slipping a clever pass for Sheehan. He jinked inside the area and played a good ball into the six yard box which Abrahams read well blasting home past Flinders. Cheltenham made efforts to pick up their game using their full backs to force play up the pitch but continued to leave gaps in behind. On 55 minutes, a Cheltenham move broke down with Innis doing well to break up play and Labadie picked out the overlapping run from Nurse. He elected to swing in an early cross but the cross was slightly overplayed with Matt and Abrahams in good positions. On 60 minutes, County worked a more accurate move and a great chance to go two up when a break from deep saw Nurse leave right back Long standing. He drove to the byline and cut back a superb cross to back post towards Matt who looked certain to score but his header from 6 yards went into the ground instead of the roof of the net allowing Flinders to adjust and save. Cheltenham made efforts to keep the ball low and work opening with Campbell and Lloyd carrying pace but the defence remained vigilant denying scoring opportunities. County were more effective mid-way through the second half with Matt and Abrahams more on the ball and working the Cheltenham defence. On 67 minutes, County were close again this time from a long throw left side of the area by Nurse which Matt glanced on at the front post which Abrahams read well but was unable to keep his volley on the turn from 8 yards down. Abrahams was then in the book for an altercation in the left corner holding the ball with no booking for the Cheltenham player. County made a change on 75 minutes with Labadie replaced by Maloney. Cheltenham made a double substitution on 80 minutes to freshen the front line with Campbell replaced by Reilly and sacrificed left sided central Greaves for Sheaf. On 82 minutes, County had another decent situation to kill the game off when Matt did well to bring the ball down left side and showed good vision to pick out Abrahams in space through the middle. He had the opportunity to shoot but he allowed the ball to go across him and Cheltenham central defender Boyle recovered to snatch possession. County were made to run their opportunities to put the game to bed on 86 minutes Thomas picked out a bold run by Hussey left side who was left untracked. He had time to lob the ball back into the six yard box and ex-County midfielder Ben Tozer stole in to volley home. County finally got their substitution made on 90 minutes with Amond replacing Abrahams with Cheltenham dictating possession and looking the stronger outfit. In the second minute of injury time Raglan caught Amond from behind and was booked. Dolan put in a reasonable delivery which Bennett stole in late to head from 10 yards but he was unable to keep his effort down. In the 5 minutes of injury time, County failed to work the keeper and Cheltenham had the final half chance when Hussey was again pulling the strings in the left corner and his cut back to the left corner of the box invited Sheaf to shoot first time but King read it well saving in the left corner.
King (6) — had little to do in truth, seemed to be struggling a bit with his kicking and didn’t get usual depth, handled well and made a couple of smart saves low down
Haynes (7) — better game defended well and tracked right wing back to deny space. Can improve on his crosses but worked some good moves left side in transition when he was quick minded.
McNamara (5) — struggled to contain runs from Hussey and was put under pressure with aerial bombardment as well. Did his best to deny and compete but got physically brushed off too easily.
Demetriou (6) — took a knock early in game which made him laboured on times. Did well in aerial duals and cleared well in general before being replaced by:
Dolan (5) — never really asserted any control across the midfield and looked disinterested on times in winning first or second ball. Put some good free kicks late on.
Inniss (8) — denied any clearcut chances, coped very well after booking, tackled and broke up threat well ushering threat outside the area. Made a couple of good runs back post which were unpicked.
Bennett (6) — struggled in midfield role to influence game and did better job dropping into defence winning his headers and squashing danger early. Went close on a couple of set pieces.
Nurse (7) — provided several decent crosses from tight positions and long throws were effective. Set up goal well and worked hard box to box timing his runs well in tandem with Haynes.
Labadie (6) — competed well and worked well box to box. Passing was little excitable and wasted some good situations but Had the better over Tozer whilst he was on the pitch and should have scored.
Sheehan (7) — had spells sporadic spells to make things happen but starved of possession especially first half and unable to get on the ball. Can improve on set pieces but set up goal well
Matt (6) — played too much outside the box first half and retention was poor. Got more into the game after the break recycling passing better and should have scored one of chances inside six yard box.
Abrahams (7) — work rate was good and when he didn’t let ball go across him and made it stick he used it well. Took goal well and should have got another. Faded late on and should have been replaced.
SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — they didn’t really create much quality final third but their work ethic and spirit got them a draw. Centre back were robust, wing backs were bold and they worked some good moves left side
Weaknesses — left quite a lot of space in behind corners when moves broke down which better sides would have punished. Got away with a lot of the pulling and cynical play
Opportunities — played direct working ball in behind, but kept ball low and were persistent on flanks especially left side. Late changes kept their energy levels up which was key.
Threats — Hussey did well left side providing crosses, Broom was busy in and around the box. Tozer directed some good passes when invited.
OFFICIALS
P Wright (6) — made some peculiar bookings but missed some of the cynical play and pulling not always using advantage to best effect.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Chris Hussey (Cheltenham) — should have been booked first half but had the mental and physical stamina to keep forcing moves and outlet was key with County unable to keep the ball well enough.
IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
County limited Cheltenham goalscoring opportunities today and having got the lead they should really have won this match, choking on a couple of decent chances after the goal when they were on top. Despite missing some key personal up top, Cheltenham kept pressing and got their reward with their late changes which County did little to counter. Both Abrahams and Matt had faded in their impact in the latter stages of the game and County needed another outlet with more dynamism. County were made to look like the away side on times with poor retention and possession especially across the midfield. County will now look to address their shortcomings in the January window and it will be imperative that they bring in players to influence more possession and creativity final third and a different dimension up front to be more ruthless. Defensively County look pretty sound with a new right back adding steal they can maintain their stingy like traits. Next up, County have a free shot at beating Championship side Millwall away in the FA Cup. The hosts have been on a decent run which has taken them up to the play off zone since new manager Gary Rowett took over. County can expect no frills, they have been playing 3–5–2 to work set pieces and corners but also work honestly to close down from back to front with the front pair Wallace and Bradshaw adding quality but not allowing defenders to settle with their work rate off the ball. It will be interesting to see how much of the experience will be retained at the expense of youthful vigour.
