SATURDAY 19 APRIL 2008

Blue Square South

A point gained or two points dropped, a satisfactory outcome or a missed opportunity?  This was all four from a County perspective as they failed to capitalise on a promising position and then failed to take the chances that they created late in the game.  But without question, Eastbourne Borough are worthy of the runners-up slot they clinched despite Garry Wilson’s squad being seriously hit by injuries and the suspension of leading scorer Andy Atkin.

County were missing Nathan Davies who became a father a few hours before kick-off, so Lee Fowler was pushed into action a week earlier than his sore hamstring would have liked, while Jason Bowen passed a late fitness test but, like Fowler, he was not risked for the full 90 minutes.  The late arrival of the Newport Air Force seemed to disturb Eastbourne and if this fixture is repeated in the end of season play-offs, it will be a fascinating contest because two league games have seen the sides very well-matched.

The parity between the teams was evident from the early stages when fear of losing appeared to make for a nervous opening, though as we have quickly learned, when ANDY GURNEY strikes it is very decisive, and the midfield player, who is already looking an inspired signing, scored a trademark goal in the 26th minute.  When Eastbourne made a hash of clearing the ball, Craig Hughes played it into the path of Gurney who fired home from 20 yards via an upright. 

Four minutes later, County had the ball in the net again but this time referee David Woolford awarded the visitors a free-kick.  There would have been no let off though had Ian Hillier’s original header from a Richard Evans corner gone straight in instead of hitting the underside of the bar and falling on the line, but when Charlie Griffin followed up the loose ball he clearly fouled keeper Lee Hook as it was forced into the net.

County’s goal had a remarkable let off in the 38th minute when Pat Harding found himself eight yards out with the goal at his mercy only for Damon Searle to clear the ball off his line acrobatically with his feet.  With a second half wind advantage it was looking good for County before Wilson introduced the second of the Crabb siblings, Matt, to join his brother Nathan in attack and sent on the tall young striker Evan Archibald.  MATT CRABB skilfully moved in front of his marker to direct a header from a Harding cross on the right past an unsighted and stranded Glyn Thompson in the 64th minute for the equaliser. 

Hughes was agonisingly close with Hook beaten in the 69th minute before being surprisingly withdrawn for Jermaine Clarke, while Fowler gave way to James Simpson who has seen little action this season.   Alsop then joined Clarke and Griffin in a three man attack in place of Bowen while Eastbourne made another sideways move by sending on the third of the attacking Crabb brothers, Sam, in place of Nathan.  The changes seemed to hand the initiative to County who were denied a goal when an offside flag ruled out a Griffin header.  This was one of 18 offside decisions, eight going County’s way, and while the assistant referee in the Eastbourne half was receiving plenty of advice from the fans in the stand, a personal view was that he got very little wrong.

Hook saved at the post to prevent a replica Gurney goal before making a fantastic leap to keep out an Alsop header while Clarke was just wide with another headed chance before Griffin turned to fire narrowly over from eight yards.  Eastbourne substitute Archibald was also guilty of a miss when he sent a close range header over the bar and, while County probably edged the game on chances, a draw was a reasonable outcome to a sporting encounter.

The fans went home to do the mathematical permutations, and what is sure is that County’s fate will not be decided until the last of the 42 league matches.  The attendance of 1,206 was the largest in the league this season at Newport Stadium, but was some way short of the numbers attracted by the visits of Torquay United in the FA Trophy and Llanelli in the FAW Premier Cup Final.  County supporters are as passionate as those anywhere, but with attendances at Blue Square Premier averaging almost 1,800, there is still a need to attract a bigger fan base to Spytty Park.

Man of the Match

County: Ian Hillier (Mr Consistent).

Eastbourne: Pat Harding (Always a handful).

Special mention: Andy Gurney (Another vital goal).  

© Newport County AFC