League Two: Bogle double helps Newport County stun Gillingham 2-0

The Exiles triumphed 2-0 at Priestfield Stadium, only their second league win since August.

They led 2-0 at the break thanks to a pair of Bogle penalties after 19 and 26 minutes, the first of which was followed by a abhorrent monkey gesture from a home supporter.

Referee Tom Reeves, after talking to the striker and captain Ryan Delaney, reported the incident with the supporter arrested and given a ban for life by Gillingham.

Bogle ended the day as the match winner and played his part in a resilient team defensive effort that earned just their third league clean sheet of the season.

Manager Graham Coughlan pleaded with his players to fight for him after Tuesday’s 3-0 loss at Notts County and he got a comprehensive response, the Exiles playing with spirit and tenacity after getting their noses in front.

DOUBLE: County celebrate Omar Bogle's second penalty at Gillingham (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

The abuse of Bogle was the only negative of a hugely important afternoon for a County side who have been on the slide since their encouraging August.

They headed to Kent to take on a promotion hopeful after a run of just one win in their last 10 games, totting up six points from a possible 30.

It was a timely victory before the League Two break for Tuesday’s EFL Trophy tie with West Ham Under-21s and the FA Cup clash with Oldham.

County made two changes to the side that lost 3-0 at Notts County with centre-back Declan Drysdale coming in for the injured Josh Seberry while Matty Bondswell got the nod for fellow loanee Lewis Payne.

That meant Shane McLoughlin moved back to the right and the Exiles switched to a back three with Scot Bennett moving to defence in between Drysdale and captain Ryan Delaney rather than Matty Baker.

Drysdale was treading on eggshells after just two minutes when he was cautioned for daftly stopping a quick free-kick then Nick Townsend was forced into a smart save in the sixth minute, getting down low to his right to push away a strong drive by former Exile Dom Jefferies from outside the box.

The ‘keeper then got off his line quickly to produce a superb one-on-one block to save Drysdale in the 12th minute after his heavy touch led to a golden opportunity for Macauley Bonne.

Townsend’s heroics were then followed by expert goalkeeping with his body by opposite number Jake Turner after a quarter of an hour, who stopped Bryn Morris’ drive from the edge of the area then got up quickly to deny Bogle from the rebound.

It became a triple chance when the loose ball was fired in and Aaron Wildig’s header, a tricky one given the pace of the delivery, went wide.

However, the ‘keeper then gave away the penalty in the 19th minute after a poor backpass by Cheye Alexander allowed Bogle to nip in ahead of Turner and then get caught.

The striker took responsibility from the spot and placed the penalty low into the left corner before celebrating in front of the Gills fans and then receiving the alleged abuse, which referee Tom Reeves reported to the managers, fourth official and stewards.

That was swiftly followed by penalty number two when Bondswell burst into the box and was bodychecked by Alexander, arguably soft but definitely needless from the defender.

Bogle stepped up again and went into the other corner with precision for a 2-0 lead in the 27th minute.

Baker was cautioned and then Drysdale made a rash challenge to risk a second yellow after 33 minutes; County needed to keep their cool and 11 men on the field.

The Gillingham crowd got a lift in the 37th minute when Connor Mahoney smashed in a long-range effort with his left foot that hit the top of the bar.

Matt Baker chips down the wing for County (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

The Gills should have got a lifeline in the last of six added minutes but former Wales international Jonny Williams nodded wide from Mahoney’s chipped cross to the back post.

That was a huge let-off for the Exiles and they knew that they couldn’t gift the hosts any freebies in what felt like a huge 45 minutes in their season.

Early chances were traded after the resumption, a Ethan Coleman header easily claimed by Townsend and then Turner getting down to gather a Will Evans drive from a tight angle.

County’s top scorer then had a chance for a cracker when Wildig chipped a quick free-kick over the top but Evans pulled his first-time volley with his favoured left foot wide of the goal.

That was his last incident of note, limping off after a knock to be replaced by Kiban Rai after 63 minutes.

Just seconds later County’s two-goal buffer was retained by a stunning last-ditch covering tackle by McLoughlin as Williams looked set to roll in to punish some sloppy defending.

Coughlan made another change in the 68th minute when Drysdale, still not fully sharp after an injury-hit start to the campaign, was replaced by right-back Lewis Payne.

That meant a rejig with McLoughlin moving to midfield and Baker dropping back as the Exiles tried to kill the clock, something they did successfully to get to the 80s.

Mahoney, Gillingham’s class act, had a slight opening in the 83rd minute but slashed well wide from inside that area under pressure from Bondswell.

More fresh legs were brought on with six to go with James Waite on for Wildig and the Exiles nearly clinched the win with three minutes to go when a flowing move ended with Bogle being denied a hat-trick by an excellent block, then the striker headed the resulting corner wide.

The striker was miffed but it didn’t matter with the Gillingham boos at the final whistle music to Newport ears.

County: Townsend, McLoughlin, Baker, Drysdale (Payne 67), Delaney (captain), Bondswell, Bennett, Morris, Wildig (Waite 84), Bogle, Evans (Rai 63).

Substitutes not used: Maxted, Wood, Thomas.

Goals: Bogle (2, both penalties).

Yellow: Drysdale, Baker.

Referee: Tom Reeves.