Newport County fell to a 3-1 defeat against Gillingham at Rodney Parade in this afternoon’s Sky Bet League Two clash.
Nathaniel Opoku gave the Exiles the perfect start, heading home inside the opening minute. Bradley Dack pulled the Gills level midway through the first half, before Jonny Smith put the visitors ahead with a strike from distance. Dack then doubled his tally from the penalty spot just before the interval.
The Exiles broke the deadlock in under a minute as Opoku met Bobby Kamwa’s cross to head home from close range.
Just moments later Newport County were awarded a penalty after Cameron Antwi was brought down in Gillingham’s box. Antwi stepped up to take the spot kick but Glenn Morris got his hand to the low effort and the Exiles’ midfielder was unable to convert the rebound.
Antwi had a chance to double Newport’s lead as a well-placed Kamwa through ball sent the on-running midfielder through on goal, but Morris was quick off his line to smother the effort.
Gillingham had their first opportunity of the match as Dack got on the end of a cross, but the midfielder fired his volley over the bar from close range.
However, Dack would equalise for the Gills as the ball was drilled across the box, and the former Blackburn midfielder thundered the ball past Nik Tzanev.
Antwi laid the ball off on the edge of the box to allow Michael Reindorf to try his luck from range, but the effort was strongly saved by Morris.
Smith doubled the lead for the visitors. Curling the ball from range to find the far side of Tzanev’s net.
Immediately after Gillingham’s goal, Kamwa had a shot from a tight angle saved by the reactionary Morris, and no one could get on the end of the rebound.
The Gills were awarded a penalty in the dying moments of the first half, and Dack stepped up to convert from the spot, completing his brace.
Looking to get back into the game, Lee Jenkins rose to meet a Braybrooke corner, heading the ball into Gillingham’s six-yard box, but the chance was quickly cleared by the Gills’ defence.
Half-Time
Following a quiet start to the second half, Opoku met Sammy Braybrooke’s free kick in the box but was unable to get his header on target.
Matt Baker threaded Tom Davies down the left flank and the full back looked to pick out Courtney Baker-Richardson.
Dack looked to get Gillingham’s fourth of the afternoon, but Tzanev was quick to react and palmed the effort out of play.
With 10 minutes remaining, Robbie McKenzie forced Tzanev into a diving save from long range.
Former Wales international Sam Vokes had a chance to add another for the Gills but Tzanev was able to stop the striker’s attempt on goal.
Full-Time
Starting XI – Tzanev, Ogunneye, Baker(C), Jenkins, Davies, Braybrooke, Whitmore, Antwi, Reindorf, Opoku, Kamwa
Subs – Wright, Glennon, Evans, Clarke, Lloyd, Spellman, Baker-Richardson
On
Courtney Baker-Richardson
Ben Lloyd
Michael Reindorf
Off
Michael Reindorf
Kai Whitmore
Nathaniel Opoku
Attendance – 4022 (601 away)
