Super-sub Jake Harris hit a late brace of goals to grant Newport County a safe passage into the next round of the FA Trophy, on a night when the final score in Robin Hood country flattered the Exiles. The Welshmen had struggled for long periods against their lower league opponents until the introduction of the young striker provided them with that missing cutting edge; fully justifying the supporters’ clamour for his more regular inclusion. A home tie with Carshalton awaits County now in the next round, as the team that cannot seemingly buy a victory in the league inch inexplicably closer to a dream trip to Wembley. Whoever said it was a funny old game wasn’t kidding.
This prolonged Second Round tie finally went ahead at the third time of asking, as County headed north deprived of Ismail Yakubu, Ryan Charles and Andy Sandell; the former pair through suspension and the latter due to him already being cup-tied in this competition. Boss Justin Edinburgh opted to stick with the same central-defensive pairing that had finished Saturday’s match with Forest Green; with Lee Baker coming in at left-back. County’s only other change from the weekend saw Darryl Knights given the wide-left midfield berth. Hosts Worksop had beaten Tamworth in the last round and would have been relishing the prospect of adding the struggling Exiles to their list of conquests.
An eager start saw half chances at both ends as the two sides tentatively weighed each up. Sam Foley had an effort clear the target on six minutes after Town keeper Jon Worsnop had been caught in no-mans land; whilst Glyn Thompson saved well from Matt Young a couple of minutes later. The Tigers were forced into an early change on 14 minutes, when midfielder Mark Hudson departed prematurely with a calf injury; Steve Gardner trotting on to replace him. It didn’t appear to affect the home side adversely as they began to attack the visitors on an evermore frequent basis, with impressive striker Jamie Jackson in particular a real menace.
A tremendous last-ditch block by Paul Rodgers prevented what looked a certain goal just past the half hour, before the hosts went even closer on 35 minutes when only the woodwork kept the Tigers at bay. Ashley Burbeary the unlucky player on this occasion as his well-struck effort thudded back off the unsuspecting upright. A few minutes before the interval, County had another huge let-off when Jackson was brought down right on the edge of the area; with referee Mr. Simpson awarding a free-kick and not the penalty it could easily have been. From the subsequent set-piece, Burbeary whacked a venomous effort just past the post and County breathed another sigh of relief.
The predictable long-ball tactics from Newport clearly weren’t working and it was obvious something needed to change in the second period if County were to avoid being on the wrong end of an upset. That said, the Exiles did begin the half in brighter mode with Lee Minshull firing over and Nat Jarvis shooting wide of the target, before Jamie Jackson brought a save out of Thompson at the other end. On 59 minutes, County went one better and surprisingly took the lead when Elliott Buchanan scored following a swift raid down the right. The hosts failed to deal with a Pipe cross and Buchanan’s miss-hit shot found its way into the bottom corner of Jon Worsnop’s net. Seven minutes later it was almost two, as skipper Gary Warren headed against the crossbar following a Darryl Knights corner; the game had swung dramatically now and it seemed only a matter of time before Newport scored again.
Unfortunately, the exact reverse of that was what actually happened as the Tigers bounced back and fashioned an equaliser their endeavours deserved on 71 minutes. Andrew Hughes fatally misjudged a long ball, allowing it to bounce over him, and the delightfully named Massiah McDonald waltzed in to lash the ball past Glyn Thompson. Clearly rocked, Jackson continued to torment the County back line and had another feasible penalty shout turned down on 77 minutes. Three minutes later, Jake Harris was introduced for Jarvis as County tried desperately to avoid the replay their creaking fixture list could clearly do without.
Within seconds, the talented young forward had released Foley with a super pass which forced a fine save from Jon Worsnop. From the resulting rebound, mayhem ensued when firstly Knights lashed the ball against the bar, before Harris spurned an absolute sitter as the ball rebounded incredibly favourably, shooting high and wide. Oh dear; but did it affect him, did it heck. Four minutes later he had County in front for a second time with a delightfully cool finish; chipping the ball over Worsnop after being found by Knights, albeit with the kindly aide of a slight deflection. The icing on the cake duly arrived in the final minute when Harris again popped up in the right place at the right time to head home goal number three; nodding the ball over Worsnop and into the unguarded net. As ten-minute cameos go, it was pretty impressive stuff; and wobbly Newport County subsequently progressed in a competition that has never seen them contest the latter stages.