Match Reports 06-07

Saturday 18 November

Nationwide Conference South

County 0 Braintree Town 1

Braintree committed a ‘smash and grab’ raid to steal all three points at the end of a difficult week for their hosts who have been in the media spotlight for all the wrong reasons. A competitive match was settled by a bizarre goal four minutes after the restart. Half-time substitute Louis Riddle saw his innocuous low cross deflect off Darren Garner, and deceive home keeper Mark Ovendale, before rolling into the net off the far post.

County played a strong starting eleven with Steve Jenkins returning to the line-up and Darren Garner making his first full start for the club. Lee Collier had failed a fitness test and there was a welcome return to the substitutes' bench to long-term injury victim Lee Jenkins.

County tried to put the media attention behind them and score their customary early goal to match the early kick off time. The stadium is without floodlights for a few weeks as the council erect new pylons with a far greater light output and a 1.00 p.m. kick off was marked by dark clouds and torrents of rain. Despite their first half dominance County could not make the breakthrough. The ever dangerous terrace hero Craig Hughes came close with a trio of headers, the pick of the three being a glancing header from a Darren Garner cross which flew agonisingly wide of the far post. County were playing all the football and the home crowd expected goals to come after the break.

Following the surprise away goal, Eugene Ofori nearly doubled the lead but Ovendale reacted quickly to close his shot down after hesitation in the home defence. Once County had recovered from The Iron’s riposte they held a tight grip for the duration of the second period with Town only going forward on a hand full of occasions. Julian Alsop failed to connect with a Jason Bowen knockdown, and then forced Nick Morgan to make a low save. Both Hughes and Jason Bowen tested Morgan’s agility with free kicks from the edge of the box. It was from a third free kick that County came closest to levelling the scores. Bowen’s 20 yard rocket thundered down off the underside of the bar with Morgan helpless, and Ian Hillier’s return shot was blocked on the line.

Sam O’Sullivan and Bowen were guilt of wayward shots when composure was called for and the visitors came close to adding to County’s woe in the final minute. With all of the home outfield players committed to attack Bertie Brayley raced the length of the field only to be denied by the big frame of Ovendale.

County will be glad to put this week behind them; whereas an unentertaining but organised Braintree leap frog their hosts in the league table.

Line-ups:

Newport County: Ovendale, Hillier, S Jenkins, Davies, Brough ©, Cochlin, Bowen, Garner (Green 84), Alsop, Hughes, Evans (O’Sullivan 67) Subs Not Used: Edwards, L Jenkins, Giles

Braintree Town: Morgan, Burgess, Jones, Adedeji, Edwards, Quinton ©, Martin, Porter (Good 89), Ofori (Baker 62), Bradley, Hawes (Riddle 45) Subs Not Used: Bradshaw, Plummer

Goals:

Braintree Town: Darren Garner (o.g.) (49)

Cautions:

Braintree Town: Morgan (time-wasting), Jones (dissent), Quinton (foul) and Ofori (foul)

Attendance: 783

Officials:

Referee: Simon Knapp (Pucklechurch) Assistant Referees: McEllin (Bristol) and Blanch (Cheltenham)

Man of the Match

Official SportsMad County Man of the Match: Nathan Davies

Reporter's County Man of the Match: Nathan Davies

Reporter's Braintree Man of the Match: Bertie Brayley

Conditions: