Lightweight sloppy performance ends play-off hopes

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 1 (Telford 40)

Colchester United 2 (Akinde 68, Chilvers 77)

Attendance: 5,989

Match Rating: **

Form:

Newport County DWWWLdLWL

Colchester United DWWLLWWLLW

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Colchester secured their safety last weekend with a good win against Bradford so will play with freedom. County need to get on the front-foot and play in the Colchester half.

CONDITIONS
Mild, cloudy with slight breeze. Pitch in excellent condition and quick on top.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Never had any control of the game, lacked cutting edge and got bullied off the ball

TURNING POINT
Half time, Colchester pressed higher up the pitch and got their rewards.

THE MATCH
County made a couple of changes with Lewis replacing Haynes who was on the bench. There was an enforced change with James Clarke suffering a knock but Jon Pask was back after injury in his place. County reverted back to 4–4–2 formation with Dolan and Bennett taking their place in the midfield. County made a passive start allowing Colchester to force the early pressure with Judge have plenty of time to pick passes in centre midfield. On 3 minutes, Judge revelled in the space offered by County in central midfield when a move right side saw Wiredu steal the ball right side and the cross cut back was latched onto by Judge but he scooped his shoot well over the bar from 25 yards. County made efforts to get their left flank working with Lewis and Waite industrious but Colchester blocked the moves out with relative ease. County were more threatening right side when they took responsibility with Norman and Azaz working well in tandem. On 15 minutes, County won a throw in right side of the area which Demetriou took quickly and caught Colchester sleeping with them expecting the long throw. Azaz made himself available taking the ball inside and his low shot from the right corner of the box fizzed wide of the right post. Colchester continued to probe away with Judge having the luxury of Rodney Parade to scoop balls over the top right side which put pressure on Demetriou and Lewis being forced to turn back and cleat their lines. Colchester maintained their composure to pass and move and with County struggling to win their tackles, they were forced back to defend deeper. On 25 minutes, Colchester switched attention with a move from right to left with Chilvers linking well through the middle and his pass left side of the area found Hughes but his cross come shot flashed wide of the right post. County snapped out of their shell on 30 minutes with a better low move with down the right side with Azaz slipping a neat pass into Street. He had the better of Smith racing goalside but rammed a disappointing effort into the side netting when he should have worked the keeper. County gained some momentum down the flanks winning some throws ins but the long throws were offering little threat the vigilant Colchester defence. On 36 minutes, County were more productive when they got a throw in left side of the area and worked a quick throw with Lewis finding Waite and his neat pass found Azaz left corner of the box but he dragged his low effort wide of the left post. County them had a free kick left side of the area on 37 minutes when Street was shunted over by Skuse. In a defunct move that typified County in recent weeks, the set piece was fluffed allowing Colchester to pickpocket the ball edge of the area and the quick pass into Judge caught County napping and Dolan was coaxed into an untidy foul on Judge to get a booking. County kept pressing a got their noses ahead on 40 minutes with a move instigated by Pask who drove forward to exploit space right side. He clipped a lofted pass into the area which Telford won ahead of Smith and he scooped a shot into the left corner from 10 yards. County kept the foot on the gas as half time approached with Norman coming more into the game. On 45 minutes, County worked a decent move right side with Norman lofting a good pass right side which Street latched onto and from near the byline he appeared to tangle with Kenlock but the referee waved away the penalty appeals. On 45+2 minutes, Lewis was late into the challenge left side denying Wiredu and in the altercation that followed both players were booked.

Colchester made efforts to pick up their game early in second half and with County uncertain in their approach they relinquished the short grip they had on the game. With County reserved in their approach, Colchester worked some low moves getting Chilvers on the ball but County stifled well forcing some wayward crosses. On 57 minutes, County were given a warning when some indecision inside their own half saw Pask under pressure with nobody demanding the ball. Pask slipped and Sears drove forward left side and his cross cut back the penalty spot was rashly sliced by Wiredu. County had a promising situation moments later when they broke up play well in the middle with Bennett finding Azaz right side. He showed good awareness to find Dolan inside and he drove forward before unleashing a low shot from 25 yards which George held well low down in the left corner. Colchester had an opportunity on the hour when a direct mover right side put Demetriou under pressure and despite appearing to have his shirt pulled, no decision was forthcoming. Colchester shifted the ball from right to left and Judge was left unmarked after some lax defending but his shot from the left corner of the box drifted wide of the left post. Colchester made a change at right back on 62 minutes with Coxe replacing Kenlock. On 66 minutes, County drove forward from deep and Norman was scythed down by Lewis to earn himself a booking. Colchester made a change soon after with Akinde replacing Hughes. Colchester persisted with some long balls from deep right side and with County slow to stop at source they conceded a cheap corner on 67 minutes when Demetriou was turned back. From the corner, County were slow to react and despite Sears having his shot blocked Akinde struck an opportunist effort from 20 yards which was deflected into the net with Day left flat footed after committing to dive. Colchester were boosted by the equaliser and continued to stifle and cause problems in transition with the movement they had in midfield. On 72 minutes, County had Bennett booked for an unnecessary clumsy challenge preventing the run from deep by Judge. County kept chipping away and a decent move on 75 minutes cut Colchester open with Azaz pinpointing a run by Telford left side and he had the better of Chambers but rashly ballooned his shot over from 25 yards. County made a double substitution just after with Cooper replacing Bennett and Baker-Richardson on for Street. On 77 minutes, County were ruthlessly punished after being in a promising situation attacking their flank, Baker-Richardson turned back into trouble and got pickpocketed by Skuse. His quick pass found Akinde who had the luxury to roam inside and play a pass for Chilvers in acres of space left side of the area. He adjusted well and showed calmness to slot low into the right corner beyond the grasp of Day. County built a decent move on 82 minutes, probably the best of the half when Azaz darted run side in support of Waite who slipped a good low pass butt the shot from an acute flashed wide of the left post. County had an even better chance moments later when Cooper drove through the middle and despite being tackled, Azaz seized on the loose ball his vision to pick out the run of Baker-Richardson deep inside the area. He had ample time to shoot but composure was sadly lacking and Chambers was allowed to recover and block the move. County made another attacking chance soon after with Collins on for Demetriou and Colchester responded with Hannant on for Judge. County huffed and puffed in the final stages of the game with shots by Cooper and Collins blocked deep inside the area. On 90 minutes, Azaz took the chance to attack from deep but his run was crudely checked by Skuse who was booked. County swung in some hopeful crosses in the 5 minutes of injury time but Colchester held out with little concern to all but end County’s promotion dreams.

Day (6) — never got anywhere near either of the goals, going down early. Never looked comfortable kicking from deep and instigating moves with pressure higher up pitch.

Lewis (6) — made efforts to link play first half but never really imposed game losing too many key battles. Checked inside to much and was predictable with his runs.

Norman (7) — did his best to make things happen but seemed reluctant to get goalside and got tackled several times when indecision let ball be pinced..

Demetriou (6) — focused dealing with direct play and won his headers and key tackles. Went close a couple of times on set pieces but needs others to step up as often well marked.

Pask (7) — assured first game back after injury, mopped up danger quickly left side when ball shunted, did well to set goal and passed well in general.

Dolan (6) — started well and distributed some good passes to wide areas but on a knife edge after booking and got beaten to ball to often late on with some wasteful set pieces.

Azaz (6) — went close with a couple of shots edge of the area first half when should have worked the keeper. Passed well through the middle and threat in transition but faded late on.

Waite (6) — had a couple of decent chances from an acute angles right side of the area. Did well probing through the middle but needs to get an earlier shot in on times.

Bennett (5) — looked a game too far. struggled to win the loose ball and never really put any influence on game. Tired early and needless booking saw him replaced early.

Telford (7) — retained ball well under pressure and was quick with distribution. Didn’t have many clear-cut chances inside box but several wayward shots from distance.

Street (5) — got pushed off the ball far to cheaply and didn’t really impose himself in the aerial duals. Lacked composure to finish the couple of chances he had.

SWOT ANALYSIS

Strengths — mobile side and flexible in approach. Created several good moves in transition with movement and awareness final third.

Weaknesses — both centre backs Chambers and Smith struggled with distribution. Offered plenty of space through the middle which better sides would have punished.

Opportunities — kept ball down for an hour and worked several decent chances. Went more direct late on with Akinde offering robust outlet and aerial prowess.

Threats — Sears eye for snapshot edge area, Chilvers busy box to box and link play. Huws was forceful left side and delivered good crosses. Akinde physical approach to unsettle final third.

OFFICIALS

T Reeves (6) — made some bizarre decisions to let game go on when clear pulling and impeding off the ball. Got key decisions right

MAN OF THE MATCH

Noah Chilvers (Colchester 14) — enjoyed the freedom County offered through the middle and was alert reading gobbling up most of the loose balls. Took the winning goal well

IF YOU WERE JAMES ROWBERRY WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Another home game where County fragilities box to box were evident and sadly they have choked playing sides in the lower reaches with little to play for but profession pride. The lack of bite and passion in the middle of the pitch has crippled County in recent weeks and since beating Bristol Rovers at home they have not been convincing in any of the home matches apart from Tranmere when they got the ball down, won the ball early and used it intelligently. Tonight, they were one dimensional first half and persisted with using their unbalanced left side to attack. Frustratingly, they ran into dead ends which allowed Colchester to ping balls in behind with ease, often unchallenged that kept Demetriou and Lewis overworked turning back. When they switched play to the right side, they did create opportunities but several chances were snatched at, when they should have worked the keeper and the set pieces delivered were powderpuff. Ultimately, County have become too easy to play against and sides are now enjoying coming to Rodney Parade with too much ball watching and not enough aggression on show. County were bullied today, not by an especially big side but Colchester were more streetwise and had determination box to box which was ramped up late on in the game. County now face promotion seeking Port Vale away a week Monday and by this game County are most likely to be out of the play off picture. Port Vale will need to deal with the pressure and cope with some injuries to Conlon, Worrall and Gibbins so this will give opportunities to get on the ball through the middle of the pitch.