Telford brace rounds off much improved performance

Report from Mark Vickery

Venue: Rodney Parade

Newport County 4 (Demetriou pen 8, Telford 43, 49, Baker-Richardson 55)

Harrogate Town 0

Attendance:

Match Rating: ***

Form:

Newport County LWLDDWWLDL

Harrogate Town LWDWLLLWWL

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
Harrogate have been stretched a bit by injuries in recent game and form indifferent. County need to match their work ethic and physicality but use the ball effectively final third

CONDITIONS
Mild, partly cloudy with little breeze. Pitch in decent condition and maintained well.

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
Focused and robust defending, enterprising final third taking chances well.

TURNING POINT
Never really looked back after opening goal.

THE MATCH
County made a few changes with new loan signing John Pask replacing James Clarke who was on the bench. Robbie Willmott was not in the squad but County were able to call on Scott Bennett in centre midfield role. There was another defensive change to add more balance with Ryan Haynes replacing Aaron Lewis who was a substitute. County retained their 4–1–3–2 formation and settled in quickly with some thoughtful moves from central midfield with Cain and Cooper competing well. Harrogate playing a 4–3–3 formation were largely direct in their approach with keeper Oxley launching some direct kicks to pinpoint Armstrong who was robust in their aerials duals. County were effective on the break and Harrogate were given a warning on 4 minutes when Cain drove through the middle and quick pass found Telford edge of the area but he was crowded out as he setting himself up to shoot. Harrogate offered some cohesion right side Thomson and Muldoon latching onto the loose ball and they set up a snapshot for Pattison on 6 minutes which was well blocked by Demetriou. County kept pressing the right buttons which some bright low passes and they were awarded a penalty on 8 minutes after a cutting move right side with Cooper doing linking right side of the area with Telford. He turned inside but was clipped by the late challenge from Falkingham just inside the area. Falkingham was booked and Demetriou dispatched the penalty with a low finish left side beyond the grasp of the keeper. Harrogate made efforts to pick up their game with Diarra offering some drive left side with his pace in transition. County maintained their intricate approach play with most penetration right side and bright move on 12 minutes saw Norman support right side of the area. He clipped back a decent cross which went behind Baker-Richardson who opted for a difficult bicycle kick from 8 yards which went wide of the right post and bar. Harrogate forced some territorial possession pressing County back deeper for a time and they were quick to latch onto some of the shorter kicks by County keeper Telford. On 16 minutes, Harrogate won a free kick right side when Page drove forward right side and Cooper got the wrong side of him. Thomson took the free kick but his low drive from 25 yards was well wide of the left post. County kept their passing ticking over well through the middle and the sharpness caused problems for Harrogate who had Armstrong booked for a late lunge on Demetriou. The game remained competitive and Cooper was booked on 22 minutes for tangling with Muldoon as he drove inside from the left channel. Harrogate were committed to push on but became increasingly vulnerable when they lost possession inside the County half. On 28 minutes, County broke well with a menacing run right side and Telford showed great vision to pick out Baker-Richardson in space right side of the area. The return pass inside for Telford was on who was being tracked by Legge but opted to shoot but his shot from an acute was wildly thrashed wide of the right post. County exposed Harrogate again with another slick move moments later when Azaz supplied Cain who carried a strong run left side of the box and his deft cross was met by Cooper who stole in late with a header from 10 yards which clipped the outside of the right post. In a purple patch for County which should have yielded a second goal, they created an excellent move on 32 minutes with Bennett breaking up the threat well. He supplied Telford who carried a run right side and he danced across the face of the area before slipping a pass for Baker-Richardson who delayed momentarily allowing Legge to block the low shot from 12 yards. County nearly paid the price moments later when an efficient break by Harrogate through the middle saw Muldoon switch play well to the right side and Thomson struck a decent effort right side of the area which Townsend parried for a corner. On 35 minutes, Falkingham was testing patience of the referee when Cooper drew a foul with a strong run right side. Harrogate kept persisting with the right side to test County and a direct move on 38 minutes caused problems for County after Demetriou and Haynes collided going to clear the ball. Harrogate right back Fallowfield dinked back a decent cross which Pask did well to interrupt ahead of Armstrong. Harrogate was buoyed by some better cohesion and a decent move across the face of the County area on 42 minutes invited Diarra to shoot left side but his low shot was blocked well by Pask. Then moments later with Diarra having his tail up, he made a tricky run right side of the area and went down meekly in collision with Demetriou and he was booked for simulation. County extended their lead on 43 minutes when a decisive move left side saw Haynes breeze past Diarra and supply a neat early pass into Azaz left side of the box. From near the byline, Azaz cut back an early low cross which Telford anticipated well flicking his shot from inside the six yard box past Oxley who appeared deceived from the instinctive finish. Harrogate made efforts to respond and on the stroke of half time Falkingham linked well to find Diarra but his low shot from 20 yards was comfortably saved by Townsend. County continued to ask questions and had two further chances in first half injury time with Norman denied near the right byline only for his snapshot to parried away at the front post by Oxley. On 45+2 minutes, a good counter attack by County saw Telford latch onto a clearance right side and her cut inside past Mcardle inside the area but his low shot from 14 yards well held by Oxley.

Harrogate were out for the second half early, no doubt on the end of rollicking inside the away changing room. Diarra continued to cause the most problems for County with his pace and trickery on the ball. On 47 minutes, Norman conceded a somewhat needless free kick when Diarra broke left side and pulled him back despite County having some cover. Norman was booked but the Harrogate free kick was well dealt with by County clearing effectively. Harrogate opted to put in some early crosses to test County’s nerve but they held firm and ruthlessly punished them on 49 minutes. Azaz was the architect slicing through the middle and he played precise pass for Telford who angled his run left side of the area. He took one touch and drilled low into right corner from 16 yards. Harrogate flirted with goal on 52 minutes when a neat low move saw Thomson find Diarra in space left side but his low shot from 20 yards was well saved by Townsend in the left corner. Harrogate to their credit kept pressing forcing County deeper and they nearly caught County off-guard on 55 minutes when a cross was overplayed right side of the area. Pattison was first to the ball winning it ahead of Haynes who seemed unaware of him. He cut back a cross to edge of the area which Falkingham seized upon and set up Thomson but his first time shot was well blocked by Bennett. County added a fourth goal on 55 minutes when a free kick was taken quickly and released Telford right side of the area. He played a clever pass inside for Baker-Richardson to latch onto and he stumbled his way around keeper Oxley before slotting home from 6 yards. Harrogate remained direct in their approach but their passing lack quality to trouble County final third despite some good approach play. County made their first change on the hour with new signing from James Waite from Welsh Premiership outfit Penybont replacing Cooper. Harrogate responded with their first change on 65 minutes with Beck replacing Muldoon up front. Harrogate went increasingly using the towering frame of Beck as an outlet. County managed the threat well and created some purposeful moves right side with Waite constructing well with the ball at his feet. On 68 minutes, Waite did well to supply a pass to Azaz left side timing his run well to meet the byline and his cross picked out Baker-Richardson but the shot was blocked by Legge. Harrogate made a double substitution on moments later with right back Fallowfield replaced by Sheron and Austerfield came on for Diarra. County continued to work hard to deny Harrogate space final third with Thomson pulling the strings down the right side. On 73 minutes, Thomson showed good awareness to pick out Sheron in support but his effort right side of the area was well blocked by Demetriou. Harrogate had a better spell of possession late on in the game with Austerfield getting on the ball well in midfield. On 82 minutes, County worked a decent move in the transition using space invited on the left flank. Haynes supplied a low pass for Waite and he timed his pass well for Baker-Richardson near the left byline but his return cross back to Waite fell a little short allowing Legge to make an important interception. County made another change soon after with Collins replacing Telford who had taken a couple of minor knocks second half. Another change followed on 86 minutes with Bennett replaced by Lewis. County asserted some better control in the final minutes winning some corners right side with Azaz having a couple of shots blocked in and around the box. On 90+2 minutes, County won a corner right side which Waite delivered well and Lewis rifled an effort from just outside the area high and wide of the right post. County held out well for the first clean sheet since the end of October and an important three points.

Townsend (7) — kicking was a little short and untidy first half but made some confident collections and was alert to make a couple of smart saves well needed showing good handling.

Norman (6) — got caught in possession a few times under pressure from Muldoon. Recovered well after early head injury, less prominent final third but the crosses he did deliver were decent.

Haynes (7) — switched off a couple of times delaying clearance inside area but distributed very well setting up moves quickly and was decisive with some strong bursts from deep.

Demetriou (8) — organised well, determined on his headers and was vigilant dealing with the long ball throughout. Dealt well with Armstrong and let little goalside.

Pask (8) — did well in the aerial duals, stifled threat quickly and was neat with his distribution. Kept Beck quiet when he came on and broke up threat early with some good tackles.

Azaz (7) — was quick minded when he had ball at his feet and did a lot of good work with variety of passes offered final. Was denied with a couple of snapshots in and around the box.

Bennett (7) — competed well in the air and on the floor winning his tackles, did a good job to stifle and pick his battles. Gave assurance throughout using ball wisely.

Cain (6) — had a bright first half, offered more teeth in the challenge and made several well timed runs in support. Forced deep second half and passing was more wayward.

Cooper (7) — enterprising game, linked play intelligently and set up good moves and crosses right side. deserved a goal for his efforts today and with sharper finishing would have had a brace.

Telford (8) — worked hard to unsettle defenders and link moves, took up some clever positions in and around area. Had several opportunities, took his goals very well but denied hat trick.

Baker-Richardson (6) — worked hard throughout, got across defenders well especially in the air but less reactive on floor. Needs to be more clinical inside area overthinking with shot on times

Strengths — constructed some decent low moves and had the measure of the possession box to box were effective

Weaknesses — both centre backs were vulnerable to pace and trickery. Overplayed several passes and wasteful crosses final third, conceded several fouls through the middle

Opportunities — playing an attacking 4–3–3. Had spells when they were direct but offered more concern when they were patient in build up play. Over reliance on direct ball

Threats — Thomson gave outlet right side, eye for a cross and decent shots, Armstrong won fair quota of headers. Diarra offered pace in transition and got shots in early.

OFFICIALS

O Yates (8) — managed game well, rarely noticed him as he offered advantage when required and got key decisions right only booking when needed.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Dominic Telford — Two more goals and a clever assist which were made to look easy. Contributed well throughout with link play and intelligent use of the ball

IF YOU WERE JAMES ROWBERRY WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County certainly put a few wrongs right today learning well after the abject performance against Salford City last weekend showing more teeth and desire all over the pitch. County didn’t need the 12th man today such was their focus and concentration with keeping a clean sheet which was equally satisfying as the goals. Despite not having the edge in possession, County were quick to squash the Harrogate threats and when they did win the ball they used it effectively and very efficiently to find weaknesses in Harrogate defence. County also managed the game well after getting the early lead and were always a threat in transition today with their patterns of play and guile in and around the box. Pask had a good debut and Haynes offered a good balance coming into the side in tandem with Bennett in the holding role. County made few lapses today and cut out the errors which was key. County can improve their distribution from deep with Townsend kicks not always finding their mark and if both Haynes and Norman can sharpen their distribution they can turn sides around even quicker. Next up is Scunthorpe United away, where County will buoyed on by large expectant support. Scunthorpe have improved their levels of performance under new manager Keith Hill but have struggled for goals this season which has been made worse by losing top scorer Loft to Bristol Rovers. Scunthorpe are likely to play a similar 4–1–3–2 system with Pugh and Hippolyte offering energy and craft in wide positions. County need to tame that but keep trusting their process to make the ball work hard, but also be cutting when they do have the opportunity final third.