Report | Newport County 1-0 Barrow AFC

match report

Newport County battled to a 1-0 victory against Barrow AFC at Rodney Parade on Saturday afternoon.

The Exiles took all three points in the hard fought win, with a second half Kyle Cameron own goal, being the difference between the sides.

After the own goal, County continued to battle until the final minute with a solid defensive display and a number of crucial saves in the final fifteen minutes  as we secured our seventh clean sheet of the season.

Head coach, Nelson Jardim, made two changes to the starting eleven that faced Salford City in midweek, with Anthony Glennon and Joe Thomas coming into the side. 

The game started with Bobby Kamwa looking to create an early goal for the Exiles. Kamwa did brilliantly to beat Theo Vassell on the left wing before firing a cross into the side netting. 

Moments later, the visitors went close from a free kick with Kian Spence who narrowly missed the target with his dipping effort.

Once again it was Kamwa who sprung County into attack as the forward brought down a long kick from Townsend, twisted past his marker and shot just wide of the mark.

The first shot of the game came for the Bluebirds as Leo Duru dribbled into the box and hit a powerful low shot that was held well by Townsend.

Bluebirds Left back, Ben Jackson, whipped a dangerous ball into the box that forced Anthony Glennon to clear behind for a corner.

Emile Acquah proved to be a threat as the target man did well to win his aerial duel in the middle of the park. He then got on the end of the subsequent cross but his effort lacked power and made for a comfortable save. 

Half Time

There was a frantic start to the second half as Matt Baker looked to slide through Kamwa. His ball was intercepted and Barrow launched a counter that saw Spence force Townsend to parry away his powerful shot from range. 

Just after, Kai Whitmore did brilliantly to drive into the box as he got the better of Duru before it appeared that he was brought down. The referee waved all appeals away and the play resumed. 

The game started to open up for the Exiles with Whitmore as he created space in the midfield with a piece of skill to break the lines. He laid the ball out to David Ajiboye who cut inside and shot from outside the box but it was an easy save for Paul Farman.

In the 58th minute, Nelson Jardim looked to the bench for fresh legs. Courtney Baker-Richardson, Cameron Antwi and Kieron Evans replaced Whitmore, Ajiboye and Josh Martin.

Newport County opened the scoring in the 70th minute as Kyle Cameron bundled into his own goal. The opener came from a brilliant curled ball in from Antwi towards Baker-Richardson and Cameron headed the ball past Farman. 

Bluebirds substitute, Elliot Newby, was a bright spark for the visitors after coming off the bench. The winger cut in from the right hand side taking out two County defender but his shot was dragged just wide. 

In injury time, Townsend pulled off a crucial save to ensure the three points remained in NP19. Substitute winger, Connor Mahoney did well to work a shot from the edge of the box and it seemed destined to fly into the bottom right corner but Townsend did excellently to get down low and push wide.

It was a nervy finish to the seven minutes of added time as the visitors pushed for an equaliser and in the final moments of the game Aaron Presley headed wide with the last chance.

Full Time

It’s a quick turn around for the Exiles who return to action on Tuesday evening against Morecambe FC at home (7:45pm).

Newport County: Townsend, Thomas, C.Evans (Mawene 94'), Baker, Clarke (C), Glennon, McLoughlin, Whitmore (K.Evans 58’), Ajiboye (Antwi 58’), Martin (Baker-Richardson 58’), Kamwa.

Substitutes: Webb, Hudlin, Spellman.

Barrow AFC: Farman, Campbell (Smith 80'), Cameron, Canavan (C), Spence (Mahoney 62'), Williams, Gotts, Acquah (Pressley 69'), Jackson, Duru (Newby 68'), Vassell.

Substitutes:  Stanway, Foley, Tiensia.

Attendance: 4133 (140)