Match Reports 06-07

Saturday 14 October

F A Cup 3rd Qualifying Round

County 4 Bishops Cleeve 2

Bishops Cleeve’s big day was marred by a serious injury to centre half Dan Avery and eventual defeat in this enthralling cup tie. With the game tied at 1-1 on 22 minutes Avery sustained a neck injury in a collision with Julian Alsop.

The game was delayed for some 40 minutes as Avery received treatment before transportation to hospital. We understand that, thankfully, a full recovery is expected.

With significant changes to the squad over the last week County fielded a strong and predictable first XI with Stewart Edwards recalled from Carmarthen to bolster the defence.

Craig Hughes gave County a 5th minute lead with a bullet header from an in-swinging Damon Searle cross only for Bishops Cleeve to restore parity a minute later - Jon Curtis tapping home a deflected Kevin Slack cross from close range. Despite ample possession and a number of goal scoring opportunities County had defended nervously and Cleeve took full advantage after the mid-half restart. A long-throw from Slack from the left eluded the whole home defence on 36 minutes and Luke Corbett had the simple task of nudging the ball home at the far post to give Cleeve a surprise lead. County were showing promise going forward but were ill-disciplined at the back and were facing the embarrassment of another early F A Cup exit against lesser opposition. Hughes was causing the away defence all sorts of problems but could not add a second goal to haul County back into the match.

County showed a new resolve and took control from the second restart. Cleeve were under heavy pressure from a series of corners and free-kicks and with the crowd behind them it was only a matter of time before County asserted themselves. The equaliser County threatened came on 62 minutes. Craig Hughes raced onto a long through ball from Nathan Davies and gave Jon Skeen no chance with his driven shot. County then piled on the pressure in the search for a place in the final qualifying round draw. The class of the mercurial ex-Welsh international Jason Bowen finally told and it was Bowen who settled the match for the Conference South club.

Alsop dummied a cross from deep from Stewart Edwards to give Bowen the space to fire a precise low shot in from the corner of the box in the 74th minute. Richard Mansell felled substitute Matt Green to give County a late penalty which Bowen cheekily converted to end the brave resistance of the Gloucestershire club from two divisions below the hosts. Simon Goodwin was dismissed having received a second caution to add insult to injury to Cleeve.

County have been drawn at home to NEWI Cefn Druids in the FAW Premier Cup and hope for another home draw in this famous old competition on Monday lunchtime.

Line Ups:

Newport: Ovendale, Edwards, Searle, Davies, Brough ©, Hiller, Bowen, Collier, Alsop (Green 81) , Hughes, Evans (O’Sullivan 46) Subs Not Used: Cochlin, Toghill, Blackburn

Bishops Cleeve: Skeen, S Avery, Goodwin, Rhodes (Woolf 77), D Avery (Collins 22) (Hills 77), Tucker ©, Curtis, Williams, Slack, Corbett, Mansell Subs Not Used: Egleton, Dimitrov

Goals:

Newport: Hughes (5 and 62) and Bowen (74 and 86 penalty)

Bishops Cleeve: Curtis (6) and Corbett (36)

Cautions:

County: Green (foul)

Bishops Cleeve: Goodwin (foul), Mansell (foul), Slack (ungentlemanly conduct) and S Avery (foul)

Dismissals:

Bishops Cleeve: Goodwin (second caution for a foul)

Attendance: 809

Conditions: Overcast and dry

Officials:

Referee: P Grove (Stourbridge)