County working on trio

NEWPORT COUNTY'S top trialist trio will add more quality to the Nationwide Conference push, insists Exiles defender Andrew Thomas.

County manager Peter Nicholas is working hard to arrange the finances and commit Fan Zhiyi, Gareth Phillips and Steve Williams to Spytty Park.

Chinese World Cup star Zhiyi was again energetic and strong in the middle of the park in Newport's 1-1 draw with AFC Wimbledon at Newport Stadium on Saturday before the 106-times capped player was substituted on 33 minutes as a precaution after a rib knock.

Ex-Swansea City ball-winner Phillips probably had his best game for Newport since arriving in Gwent on trial, and former Cardiff City right-back Steve Williams is proving to be a consistently good performer.

And Newport-born Welsh semi-pro centre-back Thomas hopes they sign on the dotted line and help his home city club nearer to the Football League.

"They are superb players and add that little bit of quality we need," said the 20-year-old.

"I don't know anything about whether they will sign but obviously they're playing at the moment so I assume they're keen on staying here. I suppose it all hangs on whether a league club comes in for them.

"They are great lads too and have bonded well with all of us."

Another new face at Newport Stadium is left-back Gary Lloyd, who joined on Friday from Barry Town, and his impact at County was almost immediate.

Wales' semi-professional team captain took aim with a 25-yard free-kick in the seventh minute of his debut against Combined Counties League side Wimbledon - but his deadly left boot couldn't get the better of Dons stopper Ray Merry, who finger-tipped the ball around a post.

County began the livelier and striker Neil Davis should have scored in the opening quarter-of-an-hour, but after rounding the on-rushing Merry, he chose the wrong option and squared the ball to no- one when he should have gone for goal.

Within ten minutes the visitors from London were ahead.

Wimbledon front-man Ally Russell beat Williams in the box and set-up Gavin Bolger to fire home from 15 yards.

Newport's fitness impressed as they dominated the final period, only the lack of a cutting-edge letting them down in front of a bumper 1,012 crowd.

Davis, though, did make Newport's pressure count after 66 minutes as he pounced on to trialist Jamie Michael's flick through and fired the ball under Merry into the corner of the net.

County 'keeper Pat Mountain was almost left red-faced when he dropped Andy Sullivan's cross under pressure at the feet of Wade Falana, but the striker amazingly scooped the ball up and over the bar from six-yards.

Jeff Eckhardt almost snatched a late winner but, after Williams' low right-wing cross had eluded everyone, the experienced Newport defender's shot hit the post.