SATURDAY 15 DECEMBER 2007

FA Trophy Round 1

NEWPORT COUNTY (0) 3 BATH CITY (0) 0

There was a sense of inevitability around the 1st Round draw that preceded this FA Trophy tie; given that Newport County had already met John Relish’s Bath City in every possible competition this season, it simply had to be the Romans that followed the Exiles out of the velvet bag. Naturally, the draw in question didn’t disappoint and the two foes squared up to do battle for an astonishing FIFTH time already this season. Familiarity indeed!

An even more interesting spin on this quirk of fate was the fact that Bath have now been our opponents in four of County’s last seven home games! So if supporters at Spytty Park on Saturday were experiencing overwhelming feelings of deja-vu, they could surely be forgiven. Thankfully, after City’s brace of victories here in the League and FA Cup, there would be no recurring nightmare; Beadle’s youngsters had performed wonderfully well in the recent Setanta Shield meeting, and a gritty, determined second-half showing from the seniors on Saturday redressed the balance further to square the honours between the two foes this season.

Post-match, manager Peter Beadle expressed his satisfaction at the manner of County’s comprehensive 3-0 victory, which had followed a rather drab, somewhat cagey and goalless first 45 minutes. “We struggled to get into our game first-half” he said, “but we had a good chat at half-time about getting down the flanks and getting in behind them”. He went on to say “we weren’t at our best, but we dug deep and produced a highly effective second-half performance. It was important we got a reaction from the players to bounce back from last weekend’s defeat at Basingstoke”. The County boss was full of praise for the resolute endeavours his side displayed; “Jarmo and Hills were superb at the back, while I thought Lee Fowler was excellent today. He and Nathan ran the midfield, while up front, I thought Craig Hughes worked his socks off”. Beads’ closing statement was perhaps the most telling regarding this morale-boosting victory however; “Bath are a very strong defensive side” he said, “there aren’t many teams that will beat them by three goals this season”.

A late withdrawal through injury by skipper Steve Jenkins presented James Simpson with a rare starting berth at right-back, with County otherwise appearing at full strength. There was surprisingly no place on the bench for recent signing Jermaine Clarke however, as the giant striker had complained of feeling unwell earlier on Saturday morning. There was very little to excite the faithful five hundred or so that shivered their way through an opening half almost devoid of incident and goal-mouth action, as an Exiles side clearly lacking in confidence found themselves barely able to string more than two consecutive passes together. Unable to get wingers Bowen and Evans into the game, it was Bath who provided the neater football in a first-half rendition of cat and mouse.

Of what little chances there were for the home side, Jason Bowen had fired well over the bar from 20 yards before the best chance of the half fell to striker Charlie Griffin on 34 minutes. The ball dropped nicely to the in-form striker centrally, just 12 yards out; but Griffin summed up the half with a miscued effort that was toe-poked well wide. A minute before the interval, County’s best player of an uninspiring half, Nathan Davies, struck a 20-yard pile-driver that dipped just over Paul Evans’ crossbar. That opportunity had arrived only moments after a challenge from Lee Fowler had gone unpunished by Referee Mr Newell, resulting in an ugly bust-up that saw players from both sides square up to each other.

Whatever the management team of Beadle and Young said at the break, it clearly worked, because County began the second period with a new found zest and sense of purpose. Just a couple of minutes after the restart, winger Richard Evans supplied a delightful cross that was met by the unmarked Griffin who agonisingly headed just inches wide of the upright. On 52 minutes, County survived a real scare and it proved to be the pivotal turning point of the match. Bath forward Dave Gilroy broke free down the left and squared unselfishly to Lewis Hogg who had only to apply the finishing touch it seemed. County ‘keeper Glyn Thompson, in commanding form as usual, performed a breathtaking stop to deny the midfielder from almost point-blank range. It was a warning County heeded in style when two minutes later, Craig Hughes made the all important breakthrough. Strike-partner Charlie Griffin did wonderfully well on the left to turn and wriggle free of his marker, before racing goal-wards and laying the ball off for HUGHES to slot into the corner of the net from 15 yards. At first glance, it appeared Hughes had scuffed his shot somewhat, but thankfully for the Exiles, there was enough on it to evade the despairing dive of Paul Evans.

The goal injected new life into County and their crisp passing game began to illuminate the contest. In midfield, Davies and Fowler began to pull the strings, bringing mercurial winger Richard Evans into the game increasingly more frequent. Bath, never a team to throw the towel in, continued to create half-chances themselves, but with Thompson in fine form, as were defenders Hillier and especially Jarman in front of him, County held firm before striking a mortal blow on 68 minutes. This time it was a goal of the highest order and the type of strike that is born from confidence. Richard Evans delivered a sublime run and cross from the left bye-line and poacher HUGHES gave it the finish it merited with a clinical far-post header.

John Relish sent on Bath substitutes Partridge and Walsh, the latter sending a shiver racing down the spine of the home faithful after his trio of goal-scoring cameos at Spytty this season. Indeed, Walsh had a chance to add to that proud run on 84 minutes, but fluffed his lines by heading straight at Glyn Thompson. Moments later, City midfielder Hogg was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card from Mr Newell after a cynical trip on Davies had halted the County livewire just as he threatened to burst clear. It mattered not, County’s determined second-half showing had left Bath a beaten outfit and salt was rubbed into their wounds with a glorious third goal in the 90th minute. Newport’s Charlie GRIFFIN beat off the challenge of Jones before coolly slotting the ball past Evans in the Romans goal, for a strike his hard-working and unselfish second-half display deserved.

It was arguably a score-line that flattered County a little, but there was no disguising the fact it was an excellent second-half display from Beadles charges, seeing off the stiff challenge of Bath without a farm-yard animal in sight!

Man of the match ~ County: Nathan Davies (just shaded it from Lee Jarman)

                                    Bath: Lewis Hogg (as with Nathan, an all-action display)

Special mention: The five hundred-plus die-hards that avoided the Christmas shopping to indulge in a mass display of collective shivering at a teeth-chattering Spytty Park.

© Colin Jeremiah