SATURDAY 05 APRIL 2008

Blue Square South

Isn’t this what Saturday’s are all about?  A good-humoured crowd in excess of a thousand including a sizeable turn-out from Bromley, a sunny spring afternoon, good football from both sides, a County victory and an exemplary refereeing performance.

Recent County home displays have been nervous and error-ridden, while the listing of Antony Coggins to take charge might also have been a concern following recent criticism directed at him.  However, it is imperative that the game breeds a new generation of officials and on this evidence he certainly seems to have talent.  He linked very well with his assistants and established a much stronger rapport with players on both sides than he did on his previous visit.

This was Bromley’s first visit to Newport and any slender hopes they had of still reaching the play-offs depended upon their picking up some reward from this game.  Their approach was pleasing and built around a game plan of using former Welsh Under-21 striker Gareth A Williams in the hole behind a front two of Omari Coleman and Danny Hockton.  This meant that central defenders Lee Jarman and Paul Cochlin often had three forwards to contend with in the first half, and with the visitors having wind advantage, County probably felt vulnerable to the ball being played in behind their defence.  It was unsurprising therefore that to minimise the risk of being turned, they sat a little too deep and Williams exploited the space very effectively.

County gave themselves the perfect start however with a flowing move culminating in a perfect cross from Richard Evans on the left which ANDY GURNEY met with a downward header past Bromley’s other Gareth Williams - the green clad keeper.  Just 65 seconds had elapsed but Bromley were not disheartened and their three-pronged spearhead was full of intelligent running.  It was a subtle piece of skill from former Colchester forward WILLIAMS which produced the equaliser on 18 minutes when he induced a Red Sea like parting of the County rearguard and ran through the middle to fire past Glyn Thompson.

A rejuvenated Julian Alsop was leading the County attack well however and he forced saves from the visiting keeper with headers from free-kicks from Evans and Gurney.  In the 39th minute Jason Bowen played a neat ball to skipper Steve Jenkins and advanced down the right expecting the return pass which duly arrived on cue for the former Wales winger to hit a sublime cross which CHARLIE GRIFFIN fired home at the second attempt after his header had been blocked by keeper Williams.

The second half was a more one-sided affair with County dominating almost throughout.  Griffin found space in the 49th minute but his effort was blocked by the keeper while a visiting defender did likewise to deny Jenkins a first goal for the club seconds later.  The cheers of the fans died in their throats in the 52nd minute when an offside flag correctly ruled out a Griffin header, while Hockton shot tamely when clear for the Lilywhites six minutes later.  Gurney, Bowen and Evans were producing some delightful approach work with Lee Fowler perhaps surprisingly playing the anchor role in midfield, and a third County goal was inevitable.

It almost arrived on the hour but a rare right-footed effort from Evans was saved in spectacular fashion by Williams the keeper.  There was no respite for Bromley and County effectively killed off the contest with another demonstration of attacking teamwork in the 73rd minute.  Evans and Alsop were the creators and it was fitting that the finish was supplied by GURNEY who was easily the outstanding player on display with no slight intended towards the worthy Bowen who won the match sponsors’ award for Man of the Match.  There were brief cameos from substitutes Nathan Davies, Craig Hughes and Jermaine Clarke with the first two having suffered minor knocks recently and Davies will doubtless be needed for the next match at home to Havant & Waterlooville four days later when Gurney is missing through suspension.

So County have responded to three successive defeats with arguably their two most fluent victories of the season.  The fans will hope that the visit of Havant will show what Wednesday evenings are all about!

Man of the Match

County: Andy Gurney (almost the perfect midfield display capped by two very good goals).

Bromley: Gareth A Williams (an excellent first half performance).

Special Mention: Julian Alsop (for rolling back the years).

Special thanks to Ade Williams for allowing the use of his Red Sea metaphor to describe the Bromley goal.

© Newport County AFC