So a final placing of sixth, one short of a place in the promotion play-offs but 12 rungs higher than each of the last two seasons, was very creditable and the task now is to continue the massive improvement of the last year or so under Peter Beadle and Scott Young, and progress further next season.

 

This was County’s seventh league match in 15 days and Beads had to gauge the fitness levels of the players in picking his team against a Cambridge outfit which had won on their last two visits to the Stadium and are astutely managed by Gary Roberts.  A minute’s applause in memory of Alan Ball raised the atmosphere at the start but the crowd, with the exception of the travelling contingent, quickly became subdued when County conceded in the third minute.

 

City sides of recent vintage have been effective counter attacking combinations and it took just 30 seconds for them to show this side of their game when Michael Gash surged through only to be nudged aside by Damon Searle.  Their early lead was the product of a lack of defensive concentration when CHARLIE HENRY was allowed to take up a position goal side of right-back Ian Hillier, but onside because the delivery was from a Danny Naisbitt goal-kick.  He caught Jacob Giles in no man’s land with his shot.  The rest of the first half was spent with County pressing although possession was squandered far too often by a midfield missing the injured Nathan Davies and short of a creative presence.

 

Jason Bowen was denied by Naisbitt in the 14th minute and the City keeper was also too good for the follow-up by Craig Hughes.  Craig Radcliffe then cleared a John Brough header off the line in the 22nd minute though County’s influential skipper was forced to limp off three minutes later.  Beads reshuffled by switching Hillier to his usual central defending role alongside Stewart Edwards with substitute Kris Leek slotting in at right-back.  The 19 year-old made an immediate impact with a devastating cross field ball with which Hughes was just unable to meet firmly.

 

There was an air of optimism that a one-goal interval deficit could be clawed back but it became 2-0 when HENRY’S 30 yard effort took a last second swerve to leave egg on the face of keeper Giles.  It happens to all members of the keepers’ union at some time but Jake would have gladly disappeared down a conveniently placed pothole at that moment.

 

The second half should have started with a home penalty when Julian Alsop was clearly pushed over at a throw-in but following the charitable award of a point saving spot-kick to us for a perfectly fair challenge at Sutton last week, perhaps we should draw a veil over this incident.  We should, but of course we won’t because while referee Andy Bennett was perhaps not well-placed to see the foul, his assistant on the stand side made one ponder on appropriate uses for his flag.

 

Richard Evans supplied a telling cross which Hughes headed wide before making way for Sam O’Sullivan, the match winning hero of less than 48 hours earlier, whose omission had raised eyebrows in the home support.  O’Sullivan, like Leek, wasted no time justifying his place on the pitch though Stuart Wall cleared his 65th minute effort off the line.  The crowd remained positive and were rewarded by a superb individual goal from EDWARDS three minutes later.  The defender switched feet to strike a 30 yard effort that had Naisbitt clutching fresh air. 

 

Beads went for broke by sending on Dean Holdsworth in place of midfield player Lee Collier, though Edwards then showed his defensive prowess to clear from City danger man Lee Roache, while O’Sullivan was again denied by Wall who was just off the goal line when he cleared an angled drive two minutes from time.

 

But Cambridge held their nerve and County never looked capable of the rescue attempts which retrieved the recent games against Salisbury and Weston. 

 

A feature of home matches this season has been the level of support, both vocal and numerical, and the fans who have enjoyed this campaign so much expressed their appreciation at the end.  Our home league average of 932 shows an increase on 244 on the previous season, and, while well short of the numbers we believe we are capable of attracting, is the highest since the first campaign at the Stadium 12 seasons ago when the Southern League Midland Division title was won by a 14-point margin. 

 

Cambridge City have had problems of their own which have threatened their continued existence and nearby Histon have now overtaken them, and join former League club Cambridge United in the Blue Square Premier League (the Conference to you and me)!  We were pleased that they brought a large following to Newport who contributed to the match day atmosphere, and we wish City well for next season, while looking forward to attempting to gain revenge for their two successes against us this term.

 

Line-ups:

County: Giles, Edwards, Searle, Simpson, Brough (Leek 25), Hillier, Bowen, Collier (Holdsworth 78), Alsop, Hughes, Evans (O’Sullivan 60).  Subs not used: Bassett, Ovendale.

Cambridge City:   Naisbitt, Pope, Radcliffe, Chaffey (Wall 9), Fuff, Bowditch, E’Beyer, Midgley, Gash, Roache (Sinclair 90+4), Henry.  Subs not used: Baillie, Chick, Mercade.

Scorers:

County:  Stewart Edwards (68).

Cambridge City:   Charlie Henry 2 (3, 45+2).

 

Cautions:

Cambridge City: Midgley (34), Gash (62).

 

Man of the Match:

County:  Kris Leek.

Cambridge City:   Lee Roache.

 

Officials:

Referee:  Andy Bennett (Okehampton).

Assistants:  Mark Russell, Damon McEllin.

 

Match rating:  3/5.