NEWPORT COUNTY AFC

On the expansive playing surface at Fratton Park County opened the game with the intent of passing the ball on the deck, with Ayina paring Boden up top. The first chance of the game came when the ball was passed through the midfield and found Alex Rodman in space down the right. The winger took a touch a launched a driven effort towards goal that bounced past the right-hand post.

Ten minutes into the game the Exiles had their first shot on target. A long-ball forward by Joe Day was knocked into the path of Boden by the leaping Ayina and Scott managed to break into the area, before firing an effort into the hands of Ryan Fulton in the Pompey goal.

County took the lead in the 35th minute, when a Medy Elito cross was flicked high towards goal via the head of Scott Boden. 'Keeper Ryan Fulton looked to have the danger covered, but pressure from Darren Jones looked to distract the 'keeper, as he fumbled the ball for Darren Jones to tap home. 

Holmes and Rodman looked to create a useful partnership down the right and on twenty-five minutes the full-back launched a curled delivery into the area that fell kindly for the winger, who's shot was deflected and Ryan Fulton was able to gather the ball.  

The home side had to wait until first-half stoppage time for their first real threat on goal, when a cross from the right was dropped by Day and the ball fell to McNulty, who was denied by a good close-range save by Day, to ensure County remained in front going into halftime.

Into the second-half and County managed to restart the game brightly, with Scott Boden testing Ryan Fulton from a measured shot from the edge of the area just five minutes after the break.

The hosts were reduced to ten men when Garry Roberts was shown a second yellow card for a dive on the edge of the County area, after making a dangerous run towards the County goal.

The Exiles made the extra man advantage count, by adding a second goal twenty minutes before the final whistle. Wilkinson and Elito combined well down the left, which resulted in Medy curling a delightful cross into the area for Scott Boden to head home unmarked from close-range.

Portsmouth committed more men forward, in search of a comeback  but County were able to punish the home side on the break and managed to cut them open on a number of occasions. 

In the 87th minute the Exiles managed to add a third when Mark Byrne broke into the area and played a pass across the box that was fired home at the far post by Dean Morgan.

In stoppage time Joe Day was forced into making a fine save to deny Kal Naismith, diving to his right to tip the ball past the post, in what was the best chance of the game for the hosts.

The Exiles saw out the remaining five minutes of stoppage time and secured a valuable three points, with a important game at home against Hartlepool United on Tuesday.