As he had
done on Saturday, manager Peter Beadle chose to field what was
almost a different team for each half, with Jacob Giles starting
the match, Lee Jarman and Mark Dodds partnering each other at
the back for the first time, and new record-signing Lee John in
his favoured right-sided position. The Clevedon side included
County old-boy, Geraint Bater, operating in an unfamiliar
central-midfield berth.
After an
opening period of little goal-mouth action, it was County who
drew first blood when the lively Craig Hughes drilled home
smartly on 15 minutes. Richard Evans’ fine run down the left
picked out County’s prolific marksman, who reacted quickly to
score after his own initial shot had been blocked. The goal
ignited the game and chances began to arrive frequently
thereafter. Julian Alsop headed just wide on 19 minutes, after
an excellent run and cross from Damon Searle, while Clevedon
bounced back with Giles saving well from O’Connor four minutes
later. Lee Jarman almost forced home a Richard Evans corner just
sixty seconds after that, before Giles again saved smartly after
a 25-yard volley from the Seasiders midfield-enforcer,
Sylvester. Chances continued to arrive and shortly before the
break, Evans blazed just over after a Hughes shot had been
blocked.
A special
mention of praise should go to new central-defenders, Jarman and
Dodds, both of whom looked extremely calm and assured at the
back, and indeed Dodds showed his versatility in the 32nd
minute, switching comfortably to left-back to replace the
departing Searle who limped off after a crunching 50-50
challenge with Clevedon’s Sylvester who was certainly making his
presence felt. Youth team product Leighton Burrows slotted in
alongside Jarman and the towering youngster certainly didn’t
look out of place. Elsewhere on the field, Lee Fowler once again
suggested he will be a quality acquisition in the middle of the
park, whilst up front, a leaner and fitter looking Julian Alsop
looked sharp and enthusiastic as his partner Craig Hughes
typically tormented the home defence.
Peter Beadle
made eight changes at half-time with Thompson, Hillier, Brewer,
Leek, Collier, Bowen, Griffin and O’Sullivan all entering the
fray. It was the mercurial Sam O’Sullivan who first caught the
eye with a mazy dribble down the left-side which resulted in
County going two-up in the 51st minute. Lee Collier
spread a delightful diagonal pass out to the left flank and from
there-on, it was all Sam’s own work as he skilfully waltzed
through the home defence, finally lashing the ball home after
his initial shot had been parried. A rampant County began to
roar forward at every opportunity and defender Ian Hillier had
the ball in the net again three minutes later, but was thwarted
by an offside flag. On 57 minutes, the impressive Kris Leek
burst through and was unlucky to see his lobbed effort sail
wide, while just sixty seconds later, Alsop stung the keepers
fingers with a sizzling 20-yard volley after more enterprise
from the skilful O’Sullivan. Sam in particular was in
irresistible form and seemed to be tearing the Seasiders defence
apart at will.
County were
so much on top at this stage, that it was something of a
surprise when in the 64th minute, the home side pulled a goal
back. A scramble inside the box allowed Daine O’Connor to fire
in a shot from an acute angle, and the unfortunate Hillier could
only help the ball over the line despite his valiant efforts to
clear. An entertaining game continued to be played at a terrific
pace and within six short minutes, County had raced into an
unassailable 4-1 lead thanks to some ruthless finishing from
striker Charlie Griffin. In the 66th minute, a mistake in the
home defence allowed Griffin to race through and he calmly
rounded the keeper to slot home. Griffin was wearing Searle’s
number three shirt from the first-half, something that caused
the confused tannoy announcer to inform spectators that “Searle”
had scored! Much to the amusement of the travelling support, he
repeated the gaffe four minutes later when a lovely move
resulted in Griffin scoring again. Collier fed the impish Bowen
and his crisp pass sent Griffin racing clear down the right to
efficiently fire home.
The Exiles
played out the remaining twenty minutes with some delightful,
attacking football, which could easily have resulted in further
goals, despite playing the final six minutes a man light after
Collier had limped off. County looked to have added a fifth goal
in the 88th minute after an O’Sullivan drive from 20 yards had
been parried straight to the ever-lurking Griffin. The striker
smashed the rebound back into the net only to fall foul of
another offside flag. It capped a memorable night for the poor
maligned match announcer who, as Clevedon were taking the
resulting free-kick, cheerfully boomed out that “Newport’s fifth
goal was scored by Damon Searle!”
County team
(first-half): Giles, Jenkins, Searle (Burrows 32), Simpson,
Jarman, Dodds, John, Fowler, Alsop, Hughes, R.Evans.
County team
(second-half): Thompson, Simpson (A.Evans 66), Brewer, Leek,
Hillier, Dodds (Burrows 66), Bowen, Collier, Alsop (Jones 66),
Griffin, O’Sullivan.
Clevedon:
Greaves, Brigham (Thorne 52), Haines, Sylvester (Carpenter 80),
Hendy, Scott (Murray 66), O’Connor, Bater, Symmons, Cook (Dawe
64), Graffagino (Smythe 64). Subs not used: Kite, Page.
Scorers:
Clevedon: Hillier (64 og). County: Hughes (15), O’Sullivan
(51), Griffin (66,70).
Referee: Mark
Pottage. Assistants: Mark Lawrence, Alan Raggett.
Attendance:
203
County Man of
the match: Craig Hughes (first-half), Sam O’Sullivan
(second-half).
