It did not look that way when Max Porter
struck the first goal by a visiting side
at Newport Stadium this season as early
as the second minute when his
speculative volley from 25 yards seemed
to catch Mark Ovendale unsighted and
nestled in the corner of the net.
The goal sparked a furious County reply
and we were soon level with Richard
Evans hitting a terrific left wing cross
which Julian Alsop headed against the
bar only for Sam O’Sullivan to knock
home the rebound.
That was in the ninth minute and three
minutes later the cheers of the home
fans died in their throats when Mr Flynn
correctly ruled out an Alsop header
because the striker had climbed on an
opponent to reach the ball.
He showed no such charity when Stortford
keeper James Hussey failed to gather a
routine long ball from Damon Searle
under pressure from Craig Hughes to
present Sam with the chance to score his
second on 18 minutes.
Hussey was having a torrid time of it as
County powered forward and he gave way
to reserve keeper Joe Woolley on 32
minutes but still there was no respite
as Craig immediately controlled an
Andrew Thomas free-kick to fire past the
replacement keeper.
It was 3-1 at the interval and after a
slow start to the second period, Nathan
Davies scored his annual goal to seal
County’s biggest win since the opening
day of last season when Carshalton were
sent packing on the receiving end of a
4-1 scoreline.
Histon’s 4-0 win at Thurrock tonight
ensured County did not close the gap on
the leaders but it sets up an intriguing
9 September clash between the top two in
Cambridgeshire.
County: Ovendale, Thomas, Searle,
Davies, Brough, Hillier (Edwards 53),
O’Sullivan (Bowen 71), Collier, Alsop
(Green 80), Evans. Subs not used:
Williams, Giles.
B Stortford: Hussey (Woolley 32),
Collis, Gwillim, Stewart (Fowler 85),
Goodacre, Porter, Innocent, Champion,
Blackman (Mason 79), Midson, Taylor.
Subs not used: Fuller, Lockett.
Scorers: Newport: O’Sullivan 2 (9,
18), Hughes (32), Davies (59).
B Stortford: Porter (2).
Star Man: Craig Hughes (Newport)
Attendance: 1,215
