Talking points from Newport County's 3-2 loss at Cheltenham

The Exiles looked the more likely winners in the second half at Whaddon Road yet suffered a ninth straight league loss.

Cardiff City youngster Joel Colwill stuck the boot into his compatriots at in the 96th minute after getting in down the right and slamming in his second of the game.

The Bluebirds midfielder had got the ball rolling with a volley from close to the penalty spot in the 22nd minute and the Robins doubled their lead through Liam Dulson from close range in the 27th minute.

County’s response was swift through a Courtney Baker-Richardson penalty and they were level at the break thanks to Oliver Greaves’ finish at the second attempt in the 43rd minute.

Head coach Jardim could have been talking about two points dropped in his first game but instead he was denied anything, Colwill burgling victory against an Exiles side down to 10 men because of a serious-looking shoulder injury to substitute Hamzad Kargbo.

Here are some talking points from the League Two opener…

BOSS: Head coach Nelson Jardim in the County dugout with assistant Daf Williams (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

ENCOURAGING START

Jardim could borrow a Graham Coughlan phrase because County are looking to ‘crawl, walk, run’ when it comes to their new style.

There is a determination to pass more and dominate possession but there is a time and a place, and plenty of room for improvement.

The new boss no doubt would have liked his side to be braver on the ball at times but they worked their way into the game by going long to Baker-Richardson, a man who is strong at holding the ball up and at least making sure the defender doesn’t have the luxury of a clean clearance.

They still got crosses into the box – 20 of them to Cheltenham’s 21 – and weren’t afraid to go long from goal kicks, with one notable moment early in the second half when centre-back James Clarke took it to Townsend, who pinged a pass to put Shane McLoughlin on the run down the right.

The Newport goalkeeper made 39 passes, of which 28 were long balls.

This was not a dramatic shift towards bossing the ball and racking up the passes – they had 52.6 of possession and made 338 passes. That isn’t MK Dons/Notts County levels just yet.

County intend to entertain and they clearly wanted to turn one point into three and tried to win the game, creating the better chances after the break.

However, with Kargbo getting treatment after the three allocated stoppages for substitutions and left-back Anthony Glennon down and out of position, Cheltenham ensured Michael Flynn got his reign off to a winning start against his old club.

DOWNED: Lively County winger Bobby Kamwa won a penalty after Lewis Payne's poor tackle (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

BOBBY DAZZLER

It’s dangerous going off one competitive game but Bobby Kamwa will be a firm favourite and one of County’s major threats.

He doesn’t get an assist after being fouled by former County loanee Lewis Payne in the box but it was a classy moment that gave the Exiles a lifeline.

The winger kept threatening after the break and was close to putting his new club 3-2 up before being withdrawn for the closing stages.

Kamwa spent pre-season on trial on Walsall before signing up at Rodney Parade before the final friendly against Hereford, so he will get sharper and more tuned-in with his teammates.

He’s not only going to be valuable with the ball at his feet – the rapid forward will be a threat with long diagonals and help release pressure.

FINISH: Oliver Greaves scored a goal on his County debut at Cheltenham (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

SHARE IT AROUND

Kamwa was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet and James Clarke should have at the death when he failed to hit the target.

However, Baker-Richardson made a good start in his bid to hit double figures for County after injury stopped him doing so in 2021/22 by staying cool from the penalty spot.

Greaves, prolific when way down England’s football pyramid, rewarded the faith put in him as a starter by Jardim with a firm finish at the second time of asking.

How do County replace Will Evans goals? Sharing it around will help.

The now-Mansfield forward scored 21 of the 62 League Two goals last season (33 per cent) while the year before Omar Bogle scored 17 of 53 (32 per cent) and in 2022 Dom Telford scored 25 of 67 (37 per cent).

If County can get another forward towards the 30s then great, if not then they must share it around.

Luke Jephcott may well get a starting shot at Leyton Orient in the League Cup in midweek and the striker, who was given another cameo at Cheltenham, could do with breaking that duck soon.

DEBUT: Midfielder Cameron Antwi on his County debut (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)

MIDFIELD MOVES

County opted for a starting trio of Ciaran Brennan and Cameron Antwi behind the more attacking Aaron Wildig, with Kai Whitmore coming on for Antwi after 64 minutes.

Midfield remains a work in progress and it will be interesting to see how Bryn Morris slots in when fit after missing his first Exiles game since arriving from Grimsby last summer.

His composure and range of passing, plus his demands for the ball at his feet, should assist County’s bid to develop the possession-based game. He has the attributes to boss a game, add a touch more control and set the tone.

Morris' experience will help cover when the full-backs are bombing on while his shooting provides an extra goal threat after he struck eight times last season.

Morris is already and accomplished EFL player and his return can’t come quick enough in order to help the new boys settle when making the step up.