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Tuesday 26 December
Nationwide Conference South
Newport County 0 Dorchester Town 1
Dorchester Town continued their impressive away
league form at County's expense, and won this
competitive festive match with a solitary goal
from the long serving Matt Groves minutes after
the restart. Steve Flack headed down a deep
cross invitingly into the danger area, and
poacher Groves was first to the ball and beat
Mark Ovendale with ease.
County were second to
the ball too often in
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midfield, lacked composure in front of goal, and were too easily exposed on the break. Their cause was not helped by a serious injury to Steve Jenkins midway through the first half.
County fielded the same starting eleven from their Trophy match with AFC Sudbury, with the exception of a recall in goal for Mark Ovendale.
County had ample possession in the first half but gave a disjointed performance. County did not heed the warnings given to them by an impressive Magpies' side. The recalled Ovendale kept the home side in the match in the first half with a string of first class saves. As early as the fourth minute Ovendale had to use his large frame to full effect to make a point blank save from Jamie Gleeson, and then denied Mark Robinson at full stretch. Ovendale's third stunning save was the pick of the bunch, diving low to parry a cross shot from Justin Keller hit with venom from the corner of the box after a sweeping move.
County were frustrated in front of goal by a well marshalled defence although Lee Jenkins was unlucky not to have given County a first half lead, Simon Evans acrobatically tipping his goal bound header over the bar from Richard Evans inswinging cross. Matt Green could not continue his rich vein of form, but once did escape the attentions of his markers only to fall in the box with his team-mates calling for a penalty.
New local hero, Matt Green, being tracked by a number of league clubs, was guilty of wasting County's best chance to draw level only two minutes after Groves' strike. On the shoulder of the last defender Green chose to cut outside and go for goal with Evans stood unmarked in the centre of the box and certain to score if Green had opted to pass. The move broke down and despite a Richard Evans free kick sailing wide, a further Evans' shot being blocked on route to goal, a Julian Alsop header being cleared off the line and a rasping shot hit by substitute Craig Hughes on the turn missing the post by inches, it was never going to be County's day.
The visitors out fought County and once they had changed to a more defensive line up late in the match never looked like relinquishing their well earned lead. A competitive game was marred by a reckless two footed tackle on Ian Hiller by Ryan Hill who received a second yellow card when a straight red should have been meted out by referee Andy Bennett.
County disappointed their largest league crowd of the season and must now go back to the drawing board for their return visit to Dorset on New Year's Day. Their hosts will be confident of another three point haul based on this display.
Line Ups:
County: Ovendale, Edwards, S Jenkins (Brewer 23), Davies, Brough ©, Hillier, O’Sullivan (Hughes 58), L Jenkins, Alsop, Green (Bowen 71) Evans Subs Not Used: Collier, Giles
Dorchester: Evans, Hill, Seaborne, Jermyn, Browne ©, Morgan, Robinson, Gleeson, Flack (Town 77), Groves, Keeler (Demata 77) Subs Not Used: Lopez, Rowe, Bowles
Scorers:
Dorchester: Matt Groves (48)
Cautions:
County: Julian Alsop (foul)
Dorchester: Ryan Hill (ungentlemanly conduct)
Dorchester: Ryan Hill (second caution - foul)
Attendance:
Referee: Andy Bennett (Okehampton)
Assistants: Damon McEllin (Bristol) and Adam Ricketts (Bristol)
Man of the Match:
County Official Man of the Match: Julian Alsop
Reporter's County Man of the Match: Mark Ovendale
Reporter's Dorchester Man of the Match: Alex Browne
Match Rating:
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