Wednesday 19 DECEMBER 2007
FAW Premier Cup Quarter Final
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Wednesday 19 DECEMBER 2007 FAW Premier Cup Quarter Final |
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| The jubilant scenes that accompanied Charlie Griffin’s injury-time winner at an arctic Spytty Park were in great contrast to the dejection felt after last season’s FA Cup encounter. There was a definitive feeling on that occasion that County had not done themselves justice; thankfully, the tarnished memories of that cup encounter were put to bed in style with a splendid second-half performance from Peter Beadle’s amber charges.
The County boss could barely disguise his pleasure post-match; “as the game went on, we got stronger and fully deserved it” he said. “We are beginning to look more mature as a team and this is a big result for us”. He went on to say “this is also a big result for the club as a whole; we had been telling the players that they had to want it for themselves”. The eleven that rose to the occasion certainly heeded that advice to record a memorable night and earn a possible trip to neighbours Cardiff City in the Semi-final.
Unchanged from Saturday, the Exiles welcomed back new signing Jermaine Clarke for a place on the bench, whilst the Swans, with bigger fish to fry in the shape of a potential six-pointer at Carlisle on Saturday, fielded a team that was a mixture of first-team players and fringe hopefuls. A bright start offered few goal-mouth chances, with County more than holding their own. On 14 minutes, as the League side stepped up the pace, the dangerous Darryl Duffy on Swansea’s left flank teed up Chris Jones who shot wide from a promising position. A minute later, as the Swans threatened to take a hold of the game, Duffy collected a kind deflection inside County’s penalty area, but James Simpson got back to block superbly when the goal was at Duffy’s mercy. From the resulting corner, James Burgin forced a terrific save from County custodian Glyn Thompson, with a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
County roared back and on 34 minutes, the effervescent Craig Hughes shot over after Jason Bowen’s delightful pass had opened up the chance. Six minutes later, the impressive Duffy once again caused havoc down Swansea’s left flank, with a fine turn and shot from 20 yards that was tipped over the bar by an alert Glyn Thompson.
As the second-half gathered momentum, it was County who were firmly in the ascendancy; this was almost rewarded with a goal in the 56th minute. Striker Charlie Griffin did wonderfully well to lose his marker some 30 yards from goal, before drilling in a low shot that Swans ‘keeper David Knight could only parry to the lurking Richard Evans; alas for County, desperate defending somehow prevented the Newport winger from turning the ball home, with a strong suspicion that the ball had even struck an upright. On 65 minutes, Craig Hughes produced a moment of magic on the left before delivering a centre that caused mayhem in the Swansea box, with the League One side somehow scrambling the ball clear. It was now one-way traffic with County almost camped in the Swansea half.
Despite Newport’s territorial dominance, chances were few and far between and the tie looked certain to be heading for an extended thirty minutes. Then, almost two minutes into added time, County earned a throw-in on the right and the ball fell nicely to County’s midfield warrior Nathan Davies, who swung it into the crowded goalmouth for CHARLIE GRIFFIN to rise and power in a header that flew in off the underside of the crossbar. Cue pandemonium, with players racing to the supporters on the Shed and cult hero Craig Hughes kissing the badge on his shirt! Before Roberto Martinez’s Swans could even think about a response, Referee Mr Hames had blown his whistle and County had put to bed the memories of thirteen months earlier.
Man of the Match: County: Ian Hillier (as always, a class act) Swansea: Darryl Duffy (a constant menace)
Special Mention: The supporters who behaved themselves impeccably. |
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© Colin Jeremiah |
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