Chris Gadsby continues to reflect on the 2014/15 Sky Bet League 2 season.
It was another unbeaten month in the league for Newport County in November. Despite going out in the first round of the FA Cup, two wins and two draws for the Exiles saw them finish in the playoff places. Those victories included a convincing win away at Bury, who would go on to win automatic promotion to League 1.
Saturday 1stNovember – Hartlepool United (A) – Drew 2-2 – League Position: 8th - HIGHLIGHTS
Newport let a two goal lead slip away at Hartlepool United after Chris Zebroski and Aaron O’Connor had given the Exiles the two goal advantage before the hour mark. Andy Sandell saw red after receiving two yellow cards ninety seconds apart and the home side took full advantage, scoring twice in the final ten minutes to rescue a point.
Saturday 8thNovember – Luton Town (A) – Lost 4-2 – Eliminated from the FA Cup: 1stRound - HIGHLIGHTS
County continued their season tradition of being eliminated from the cup competitions in the first round when they went down by four goals to two against the then top of the table Luton Town. The game was all square at two goals apiece with just thirteen minutes to go but then goals for Ricky Miller and Jake Howells gave the home side the victory and they progressed into the second round.
Sunday 16thNovember – Exeter City (H) – Drew 2-2 – League Position: 9th - HIGHLIGHTS
If Newport weren’t securing all three points, they were making sure that their goals scored tally kept climbing. The game against Exeter was the seventh game in a row they had found the net, and the third in a row that they had scored two goals. This time though it was County who fought their way back from two goals down with two stunning strikes from Yan Klukowski and Max Porter straight after the break.
Saturday 22ndNovember – Bury (A) – Won 3-1 – League Position: 8th - HIGHLIGHTS
Aaron O’Connor was the hero for Newport as they travelled to Bury. His goal in the third minute of the game was the first of three that would see him claim the match ball. Despite a Danny Rose goal on the hour mark the Exiles were undeterred and O’Connor completed his hat trick in the last minute when he rounded Scott Loach and secured the victory.
Saturday 29thNovember – Carlisle United (A) – Won 3-2 – League Position: 7th - HIGHLIGHTS
It was a long trip up to Carlisle that rounded off November for Newport but it was one that was certainly worth the voyage as they left with another three points and a place in the playoffs. It was 2-1 at the end of ninety minutes but a goal for Shaun Jeffers in the second minute of added time was enough to mean that the second Carlisle goal in the sixth added minute didn’t spoil the party.
Round Up
At the end of November Newport were as high as they ever had been before and having only lost one game in the league since the middle of August, it was looking as though Newport could be on for something special in the campaign. There were only four games in December but even the most pessimistic fan couldn’t complain with the performances that Newport displayed, as they won three out of the four games. They finished December only four points from the top of the table.