Matches

MATCH REPORT VS NEWPORT COUNTY by Carol Smith-Allen

Relegation troubled Newport County quite clearly came to the New Rec with a game plan, which they adhered to throughout, and as a result returned to Wales with a valuable point and some very happy fans. This strategy together with a slightly below par performance from Blues, who currently appear to have lost a little bit of momentum made for a rather dull affair.

Steve West losing out to a competitive Newport defence Photo: tgsphoto.co.uk

Grays, with Dennis Oli in place of Dean Brennan, and new boy Aaron McClean partnering Steve West up front had most of the possession, but Newport who had obviously come with a draw in mind wasted as much time as was possible on every dead ball situation, and for the majority of the whole 90 minutes had nine men behind the ball.

New signing Aaron Mclean gets straight into the action Photo: tgsphoto.co.uk

Despite the visitor’s defensive tactics, early chances for Blues fell to McLean who scuffed his shot wide, and to Stuart Thurgood and John Martin whose shots were easily saved by Newport’s 19 year old keeper Andrew Delve.

John Martin had one of Blues' first chances to score Photo: tgsphoto.co.uk

Blues continued on the offensive and in the 19th minute came close, but Delve produced a good save this time from Joe Bruce’s powerful 20 yard strike.

Almost immediately ex-Crystal Palace, Milwall and Watford striker Jamie Moralee had the first of two opportunities for the visitors; put through by Jason Bowen, another ex-professional, his low drive from out on the flank was on target, but the effervescent Bayes made a superb stop. Moralee’s second and better attempt came twelve minutes later when, with Bayes off his line, he sent in a fierce 35 yard effort but the keeper produced an excellent save tipping the ball around the post and out of play.

Jamie Stuart in a tussle with a Newport attacker Photo: tgsphoto.co.uk

The dozen or so travelling supporters standing behind the visitor’s goal were doing their upmost to encourage the opposition, chanting at the top of their voices whilst simultaneously banging the living daylights out of the new advertising hoardings. Strangely, some of them were sporting rubber swim hats in a multitude of colours!!

During the interval there was a little flurry of snow, which fortunately had stopped before the second period started. Newport made their first substitution during the break replacing Ashley Williams with Gethyn Jones, but nothing of significance happened until after Blues had made two substitutions in quick succession; firstly replacing West with Tony Battersby, and then bringing on Gary Hooper for Oli.

Blues proceeded to step up a gear with Cole using his pace to good advantage down the left, leaving the County players for dead. The lively winger set up Battersby on 67 minutes, but the forward’s close range strike went just wide of the upright. Two minutes later Grays made their final substitution bringing on Leroy Griffiths, unmissable in his gold boots, at the expense of McClean.

Then in the 73rd minute Blues fans were just about to celebrate what appeared to be an own goal, when it became apparent as the linesman raised his flag to indicate a corner, that the ball had not ended up in the back of the net.

Blues continued to heap on the pressure but were being let down by their final touch, and then in a rare attack County almost took the lead. Gethyn Jones having dispossessed Lee Matthews with a discreet nudge sent a close range shot towards goal, but was denied by Bayes who made a brilliant save.

Blues then came close when Griffiths and Nutter combined and the left-back’s well struck shot from out wide was fumbled by Delve, but the keeper re-captured the lose ball before Griffiths was able to reach it. Right at the death Thurgood saw his 20 yard strike saved by Delve.

So it finished all square with County having achieved what they set out to do, and for the first time in nearly five months Blues hadn’t found the back of the net.

Teams:-
Grays Athletic:- Bayes, Bruce, Nutter, Stuart, Matthews, Thurgood (c), Cole, Oli, McClean, West, Martin Subs:- Hooper (used), Emberson, Griffiths (used), Battersby (used), Brennan

Newport County:-Delve, Phillips, Morgan, D Jones (c), Thomas, Curran, Williams, Davies, Moralee, Bowen, Hooper Subs:- G Jones (used), Morris (used), O'Sullivan, Phillips, Evans

Referee:- Mr T P Howes

Attendance:- 610

Forthcoming fixtures