From the Archive | Early Season Drama at Rodney Parade

This Tuesday night, we welcome Notts County at Rodney Parade as we look to extend our unbeaten league start to 2024. To get everyone excited ahead of Tuesday’s clash, we have taken a dip into the archive and are revisiting our 3-2 win at Rodney Parade back at the start of the 2018/19 campaign.

After an opening day hammering at the hands of Mansfield Town, we quickly got our season on track with a 1-0 home win against Crewe and a 1-1 draw at Exeter. Notts County, on the other hand, had suffered a terrible start to the campaign. A goalless draw with Colchester at Meadow Lane was as good as it was going to get, with the Magpies first losing away at Cambridge and then being humiliated in a 4-0 home loss to Yeovil Town. 

Despite this, the visitors got off to a strong start in South Wales. Kane Hemmings opened his scoring for the campaign when he turned in Enzio Boldewijn’s cross in the 12th minute. Their lead would not last long, though, with Fraser Franks heading home the equaliser in the 24th minute. 

Things got even better for us two minutes later when Padraig Amond picked up on a loose Notts County pass before feeding through Mark Harris, who drove a low shot past Ross Fitzsimons to make it 2-1. 

Fitzsimons would deny us on several occasions as we looked to make the scoreline more comfortable, with the most notable save being from Amond deep into the second half. 

We were made to pay for our missed opportunities in the 87th minute when a ball from Boldewijin found substitute Kristian Dennis unmarked at the back post. The striker had the time to take the ball down and slot it past Joe Day. 

Our heads did not drop, though, and we found a way through the resilient Notts County backline right at the death. A delightful cross from Tyler Hornby Forbes found Amond at the back post, who headed it back across the face of goal into the path of an oncoming Jamille Matt, who poked it over the line to secure the 3-2 win.

 

The Exiles will be hoping for a similar result this time around when they host the Magpies tomorrow evening. Secure your tickets for the clash HERE.