Newport County’s final encounter of an interesting programme of friendly matches provided further proof that Dean Holdsworth’s new-look side are beginning to gel, even if the final result tended to suggest otherwise.  The starting line-up showed only one change from Wednesday night’s victory over Exeter; with Jamal Easter starting in place of fellow trialist Adam Connolly, as the Gaffer’s new-look team finally began to resemble an outfit capable of inflicting some damage on this season’s Blue Square South.

A formidable looking second-string Leeds United outfit, managed by Neil Thompson, included last season regulars Seb Carole, Tresor Kandol and Ian Westlake.  On a warm, sunny afternoon in front of a bumper crowd, the match sprang into life early on with a string of chances thrown up.  Only two minutes of the game had elapsed when striker Kandol headed inches over Glyn Thompson’s crossbar from an in-swinging corner-kick.  Moments later, County full-back Dave Collins tested the resolve of visiting ‘keeper Jonny Lund with a crisply hit 25-yard drive, which was well held by the United custodian.  The visitors might have gone ahead in the 11th minute, Jamal Easter crucially lost possession on the half-way line which resulted in Tom Elliott making a thrilling solo run into County territory, but the forward could only shoot tamely straight at Thompson after wonderfully creating a glorious opening for himself.

On 14 minutes, the impressive Seb Carole drilled a 25-yard effort just past Thompson’s far post, with the County ‘keeper scrambling back across his line, as the visitors became evermore threatening.  County hit back and on 18 minutes they came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock.  Danny Rose on the left struck a searching cross into the Leeds area that left everybody, including the County forwards beaten, before bouncing to safety off the top of a bemused Jonny Lund’s crossbar.  As Leeds struggled to regroup, Rob Duffy superbly dummied Kevin Cooper’s low cross and midfielder Adie Harris struck a low shot inches wide of the post.  It would have been a picture-book goal!  Twelve minutes on from that, Carole dribbled into a glorious position for the visitors but could only fire straight at a relieved Glyn Thompson.  As an entertaining half drew to a close, United’s Tom Elliott broke free but was frustrated to see his effort fly just past the wrong side of the post.

In keeping with the opening forty-five minutes, the second period got off to a bright start with both sides making forceful thrusts into opposition territory.  On 57 minutes, the dangerous Tresor Kandol flashed a far-post header just the wrong side of the upright.  Ten minutes later, County substitute Paul Hall wriggled free down the left and his searching low cross was met superbly by Rose, whose diving header was unfortunately directed straight at a relieved Lund.  Eager forward Tom Elliott continued to look dangerous and sent a 73rd minute header over the bar when he might have done better.  The game began to lose shape at this point as the inevitable flurry of substitutions that seem to blight every friendly match began to take their toll.

Leeds were almost gifted a golden chance to win the match on 80 minutes when Kandol broke free, only to be thwarted by a magnificent last-ditch challenge by newly-introduced substitute Skelton.  Any respite for the hosts was rather short lived however when the visitors snatched the only goal of the game just three minutes later.  The County defence were caught napping from a low, right-wing cross and the diminutive Nathan Cartman dashed in to strike home a fierce shot that thundered in off the underside of the crossbar, giving Glyn Thompson no chance.  It is next Saturday onwards that the County faithful will begin to worry about results though and Dean Holdsworth will have seen much to feel pleased about during an enterprising encounter, one that could easily have finished up at three goals a-piece.  The real business starts now.