Nine-man Newport County draw with Carlisle in League Two

The Exiles showed quality when 11 were on the field then spirit at a numerical disadvantage to ensure their caretaker boss finished with an unbeaten four-game record.

County made a horrendous start to trail inside the first minute, giving a lift to a struggling side with a nicely-taken Joe Riley goal that was a shocker from a defensive point of view.

READ MORE: Post-match reaction

But the led 2-1 at half-time thanks to a pair of crackers by Dom Telford, the first a thumped finish on the turn and the second a solo run.

The diminutive striker forced his way back in under Michael Flynn, has kept his spot under Hatswell and will have made an impression on Rowberry.

All was looking comfortable until 65 minutes when Ed Upson was dismissed for handling on the line and Zach Clough levelled from the penalty spot.

Carlisle looked the more likely to go and win, especially when Ryan Haynes was sent off for a second yellow with five minutes to go.

Yet they held firm for a third draw on the spin, providing plenty of encouragement for the new boss watching on from the stands.

LEVELLER: Dom Telford slams in a shot to equalise

It could, and should, have been a maximum but County must channel that frustration at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.

Hatswell named the same side for the fourth game on the spin, asking the starters to go again after their exertions at Exeter and leaving the freshening up for Rowberry.

The Exiles lined up in their familiar 3-5-2 against Carlisle, who were managerless and didn’t feature former County striker Tristan Abrahams in their matchday 18.

County got their noses in front early against struggling Scunthorpe in the first of Hatswell’s four games in charge and the caretaker manager had called on his players to get on the front foot against the Cumbrians.

They headed to Wales in awful form and had dropped into the drop zone thanks to just one point from their last six games.

Making heads drop was the target, but instead Carlisle were given a lift with 39 seconds on the clock.

Clough was given too much freedom and drove after the defence before setting up Joe Riley to calmly finish past Joe Day – their first goal since mid-September.

County needed to respond and came close in the sixth minute when Telford fired a yard over from Matty Dolan’s low corner to the penalty spot.

It was the provider’s turn to go close in the 13th minute when he had a crack from a free-kick and drew a fine save out of Mark Howard high to his left.

Day had to be alert after 16 minutes to tip over Jordan Gibson’s left-footed effort after he had cut in from the right.

The Exiles were looking susceptible to the counter – a theme of the season so far – and the crowd were getting a little anxious.

Cue Telford, with a lot of help from Ryan Haynes.

County played their way out of defence and the left wing-back drove down the flank before finding the striker with a driven ball. He turned on the edge of the box and whacked a shot past Howard with his weaker, but certainly not weak, right.

That was on 26 minutes and County hit the front on 29, and this time there was no assist.

Telford got the ball on the right flank and drove at the defence, who were wary of him striking from distance with his left.

Instead he kept going and whizzed past defenders who were afraid to make a challenge in the box before a low shot on the greasy surface that Howard was unable to keep out.

County needed to keep the foot down and went close to a third when Ollie Cooper’s deflected shot hit the left post and rebounded to Dolan, whose drive was well saved by Howard.

The captain had the final say of an entertaining half when his free-kick from just outside the area was a yard off target.

The second half started a lot more slowly with Carlisle sticking in the game and the Exiles not quite finding their range on the ball.

The Cumbrians failed to really pose questions from some set pieces while Robbie Willmott drove over from distance after Cooper had done well to win the ball back.

It remained 2-1 past the hour and it was Carlisle that would have to be braver and throw more bodies forward.

Yet suddenly they were the side in the ascendancy after 66 minutes courtesy of Clough’s penalty and the red card for Upson, who handled on the line seconds after the visitors had hit the post.

County needed to dig deep and Hatswell brought on fresh legs with Finn Azaz replacing fellow loanee Cooper.

The hosts switched to a flat four but the game remained too open for their liking with Clough wasting a counter and Carlisle firing in the shots at Day.

Courtney Baker-Richardson hit the top of the bar with a curling effort for County but an away win looked the more likely as the clocked passed 80.

It looked even more likely when Haynes picked up a second yellow for a rash challenge, which actually came after referee David Rock had whistled for an earlier foul.

Day pulled off a wonderful save to deny Clough’s curler and Hatswell called on Aaron Lewis for defensive help.

The eight men and Day had to dig deep for four minutes of added time and thankfully they weren’t hit by a late sucker punch.

County: Day, Clarke, Dolan, Demetriou, Norman, Haynes, Upson, Willmott, Cooper (Azaz 70), Telford (Fisher 82), Baker-Richardson (Lewis 86).
Substitutes: Townsend, Abraham, Ellison, Cain.
Yellows: Haynes, Baker-Richardson
Reds: Haynes, Upson
Goals: Telford (2)

Carlisle: Howard, McDonald, Riley, Guy (captain), Alessandra, Clough, Dickenson, Mellish, Charters, Feeney, Gibson.
Substitutes: Jensen, Armer, Dinzeyi, Whelan, Mampala, Fishburn, Young.
Yellow: McDonald, Mellish
Goals: Riley, Clough

Referee: David Rock
Attendance: 2,962 (106 away)