Persistence pays off for County

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 2 (Amond 11, Dolan 83 pen)

Morecambe 1 (Mendes Gomez 32)

Attendance:

Form:

Newport County WWWWLWWDWD

Morecambe LWDWDWDLWW

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Morecambe have good away form but have couple of injuries up front to contend with so key County get at that from offset

CONDITIONS
Cold, dry with a keen breeze. Pitch was quite slippery and little bobbly in parts.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Dominated first half under lapse but keep belief and perseverance to get result.

TURNING POINT
Morecambe equaliser took the wind out of County for a while before late salvo

THE MATCH
County made a couple of changes with captain Josh Labadie suspended, Scott Twine returned and Padraig Amond replaced Jamie Proctor up front who was on the bench. County started well setting a good tempo to their low passing game and a decent move left side in the first minute saw Bennett supply a good pass for Haynes and his early cross asked questions before Morecambe hooked the ball clear. Morecambe were happy to absorb pressure and look for Slew as a robust outlet up front with him comfortable left side. On 5 minutes, another decent move by County saw them precise passing low and Cooper stole up the pitch to receive a pass from Sheehan. He adjusted smartly before thrashing a low shot from 25 yards well wide of the left post. County were effective right side with Amond causing problems for Morecambe left back Hendrie and an efficient move on 8 minutes involving Shepherd and Amond opened up space near the right byline and the low cross into the six yard was intercepted well by Lavelle. Morecambe were content to slow the game down and play in sporadic bursts with Slew holding up the ball strongly and Mendes-Gomez eager in support. On 10 minutes, Morecambe gained a corner left side which Phillips played deep and Lavelle directed a header back for Knight-Percival but his header from 8 yards went straight at Townsend. County kept chipping away crafting some good moves from deep with Dolan moving into some advanced positions. Moments later, County were ahead from another forceful move right side involving Shepherd. He cut back inside showing flexibility to deliver a deep cross on his left foot into the six yard box to find Twine. His header back across the goal was perfect inviting Amond to steal in ahead of Hendrie to finish in the right corner from 6 yards. County were lifted by the goal and continued to work some fluent moves right with Amond causing problems for Hendrie. Morecambe were most effective in transition picking up scraps and they broke well from deep. On 17 minutes, County were given a warning when Morecambe cut open a chance out of the blue when Abrahams stray pass left side was stolen by Mellor and his quick pass found Phillips who released a pass right side of the area for Slew to latch onto. He cut back a decent shot from an acute angle which flashed wide of the left post when he should have worked the keeper. Morecambe gained confidence from their raids on the break and elected to press up and shift balls in behind to turn County back on their heels. On 25 minutes, Songo’o was fortunate not to get the first card of the game with Morecambe increasingly overzealous in some of their challenges as they raised the bar. The free kick was taken quickly between Twine and Dolan before a dangerous looking cross left side of the box was cut out by Davis. On 28 minutes, County were again knocking on the door when Haynes drove forward well with a well timed run and his early cross had venom on it and Hendrie got an important intervention ahead of Amond. Sheehan took a quick corner which Twine read well at the front post but he could clip his shot wide of the left post from 8 yards. Twine was menacing picking up holes well and he was on the end of bad late tackle from behind when Davis launched himself. The central defender was fortunate to escape with just a booking and thankfully Twine was able to continue somewhat gingerly. The momentum was momentarily lost and County were punished for a brief lapse on 32 minutes when Morecambe pressed up high right side forcing a mistake. Phillips played a neat pass for Mendez-Gomes to chase down and the clearance went straight at him and into his path. He drove into the box and despite his first effort being blocked well by Townsend he was able to react and steer home the rebound. County made efforts to pick up their game again and almost immediately they went close when Haynes made a bold run left side of the area and showed good vision to slip a pass inside for Sheehan. He jinked inside before curling a decent effort from 20 yards wide of the right post. County had caused problems right side for Morecambe throughout the first half and left back Hendrie was booked on 35 minutes for a high foot up tackle on Shepherd. As half time approached, Morecambe were content to slow the game down and tested County with a couple of long throws. County continued to offer energy on the break and Twine struck a rising effort over the bar from distance on 40 minutes. Morecambe persisted sitting in and breaking when invited with Phillips also pushing but this gave County opportunities to counter as well when invited. County had a couple of corners on the stroke of half time from the left side which Twine delivered well but Morecambe held firm clearing effectively.

County started the second half on the front-foot with Twine prominent and denied by Kenyon with a couple of untidy challenges. On 48 minutes, a free kick left side by Dolan sat up and a half clearance was mopped by Twine but his snapshot form the edge of the was well blocked by Davis. County kept plugging away with some forceful runs and intricate approach play to yield another free kick on 51 minutes Songo’o again late this time with a tackle from behind on Twine inside the “d”. No card was forthcoming and Dolan somewhat squandered the chance with a weak free kick straight at the keeper. On 53 minutes, a Morecambe free kick right side by Phillips was met by Davis at the back post but the header from an acute angle was weak. Morecambe elected to be play increasingly deep using Slew as an outlet and a direct move on 56 minute saw him contest with Cooper and another somewhat crude late challenge was not picked up by the officials. County kept their discipline and made a double substitution on 61 minutes to freshen their approach with Abrahams replaced by Proctor and Willmott on for Haynes. County enjoyed plenty of possession but Morecambe continued to work hard to deny space in wide positions with their full backs pressing up higher to deny space. On 63 minutes, County worked an opening from a clever switch of play working the ball from left to right with Sheehan finding to late of run of Shepherd right side of the area. He forged his way past Hendrie towards the right byline but could only find the side netting from his shot. County kept their patience to play despite the lack of space on offer and Phillips was booked for Morecambe on 68 minutes for catching Proctor late. County made another change on 75 minutes with former Morecambe striker Kevin Ellison replacing Scott Bennett in midfield. County adjusted to 3–4–3 attacking formation with Willmott right midfield. On 76 minutes, County worked a patient build up and Dolan struck a low effort from just inside the area which Halstead held well low down. Morecambe main attacking threat came right side with Menez-Gomez enjoying some space on the break and a bright run on 78 minutes was not tracked and despite Cooper recovering to tackle the ball sat up invitingly for Phillips and his snapshot from 14 yards was tipped over by Townsend. Moments later Morecambe with tails up had a half chance when Mellor crept forward right side of the area and his cross found Slew stole in at the front post but his effort was hooked wide of the right post with Demetriou doing enough to deny space. County kept probing for gaps and were awarded a penalty on 82 after an excellent pass left side by from Twine was latched onto by Sheehan just inside the area. He was scythed down by Hendrie just as he was about to pull the trigger and send off for his second yellow card. Dolan stepped up for spot kick and a confidence finish low in the right corner put County back in the lead. Morecambe made another change soon after in midfield with Cooney replacing Phillips. Morecambe raised the bar in the final minutes forcing County back and a long throw on 86 minutes from the right side of the box was not cleared and Kenyon hit a shot on the turn from 10 yards which Townsend read well low down in the right corner. County worked some measured passes from deep to turn Morecambe back but they were quick to get back on the front foot forcing County to defend deep in final minutes. On 89 minutes, County introduced new signing David Longe-King for his first appearance this season after injury in place of Amond. Morecambe then gambled with two attacking changes with McAlinden replacing Slew left side and Leitch-Smith on for defender Knight-Percival. Morecambe through in a couple of opportunist crosses to test County and had a glimmer of chance on 90+4 minutes when a free kick right side by Mendez-Gomez was met by Kenyon from 10 yards under pressure from Dolan but his header was right post. County held on for a gutsy win that kept them top of the top table with Cheltenham winning.

Townsend (7) — was tested a few times and made a couple of smart instinctive saves at key times claiming well low down. Kicked well under pressure but handling was little erratic on crosses.

Shepherd (8) — enterprising first half worked well in tandem with Amond to get left back Hendrie in knots. Delivered some decent crosses and set up goal well. Went close a few times from late runs into box

Haynes (7) — did well throughout the first half linking play well with some well timed runs and his crosses were cutting. Offered less space after the break and got replaced early after knock.

Demetriou (7) — was put under some pressure by Mendez-Gomez and got caught out of position on goal. Did well in aerial duals and broke up threat better second half clearing danger effectively.

Cooper (8) — dealt well with abrasive robust runs from Slew and stood up bravely taking a few knocks. Was strong in the aerial duals, distributed well from deep and picked holes when invited.

Dolan (7) — at the heart of the best moves first half spraying some good passes and he swept forward to exploit gaps and make up extra man in midfield. Provided some decent set pieces.

Twine (7) — was prominent in the more cohesive moves especially first half and burst forward with some dynamic runs but shooting was a bit wayward. Excellent pass to pinpoint Sheehan for the penalty.

Sheehan (7) — competed and passed well and was efficient linking play. Found less space second half and did better when he flooded forward from deep to loose his marker.

Bennett (6) — sat deep and stifled main threat offered across the face of the goal. got a bit bogged down doing the laborious work but faded early on second half before being replaced.

Amond (7) — influenced the best moves first half right side peeling off into some good positions and turn provider, restricted on chance and shots on goal but worked hard throughout.

Abrahams (5) — honest game, did a lot of chasing and unsettling of defender but show enough teeth to get across his marker and retention was poor wasting possession. Replaced early second half.

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
Strengths — centre backs decent in air, they were compact defending and frustrated for large parts denying space. Created some bullish moves in transition to work shots on goal when nothing was on.

Weaknesses — conceded several fouls and were only let off by poor execution from County. Gambled pushing up high and both full backs were often slow to track back when moves broke down.

Opportunities — they mirrored County 352 to nullify threat and managed the game well after they equalised. Attacking changes late on were too late to effect game.
Threats — Slew and Mendez-Gomez complimented well with pace and power to get shots in. Phillips set pieces were decent and Lavelle aerial threat.

OFFICIALS

S Purkiss (6) — was lenient but consistent in his approach, ignored some of the persistent fouling but got key decisions right.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Brandon Cooper — tackled tenaciously, dealt with threat left side not allowing Morecambe to build and sustained momentum. Was always thinking ahead and was always quick to pass and link play

IF YOU WERE MICHAEL FLYNN WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County had firm control in the first half and such was their dominance in possession box to box, they somehow allowed Morecambe to get back into the game when they switched off defending left side. Morecambe were happy to sit in and look for gaps in transition and to their credit their front pair caused problems with their work rate and got shots in when invited. However, there approach to gamble and flood players in support left them vulnerable and County were always bright coming forward to counter. Morecambe pressed up a bit higher second half to deny space well then ball was worked wide but County showed today their capability to switch play, keep their patience or look for diagonal patterns of play to stretch the Morecambe defence. The penalty came from such a move when switched their approach play catching Morecambe off guard. Abrahams has lost some form since his electrifying start to the season and looked a bit tentative and needs to get back to basics of running at defenders and concentrating on his strengths. Next up is Grimsby Town away Tuesday who have been struggling for form and manager Ian Holloway under pressure. Grimsby have an experienced squad built around some younger players and are likely to play 4–5–1 with former County striker Matt Green up top. County need to build on the energy we saw today and put a stamp on the game in midfield to work the wide areas, with Rose and Hewitt key ball winners but also prone to giving away free kicks.