NEWPORT County moved into the top ten of the Blue Square South for the first time this season after securing a nervy victory over bottom of the league Bognor Regis Town last night.
The Exiles were never convincing in front of a dismal crowd of just over 600, but they were eventually good value for the victory that puts the boys from the Principality within eight points of the playoff positions and still in with a shout of a grandstand finish to their campaign.
It is a measure of how County’s squad continues to be insufficient in certain areas that in the absence of striker Kaid Mohamed, manager Dean Holdsworth was forced into a complete tactical reshuffle ahead of the battle with the basement boys from Bognor.
Substitute Scott Armitage has earned rave reviews for his performances in the Exiles youth set-up, but as a former striker himself, Holdsworth will surely be concerned to only have two senior front-runners in his squad.
Mohamed was a flu victim and Holdsworth adjusted accordingly, drafting Scott Rogers, who has extended his loan spell with the club into a five-man midfield, winger Steve Butterworth having returned to Dartford after suffering an ankle injury. Defender Steve Jenkins was also looking for victory as the inspiring veteran was making his 100th Exiles appearance.
Last time out at Spytty Park, when Weston visited, the inclement weather took a phenomenal toll on the playing surface and the net result was a turgid first half.
However, it is a testament to the ground staff that the pitch at the Newport Stadium looked nothing short of pristine last night.
The knock-on effect was a far more engaging opening to this game, Bognor lively and direct in their approach with County more measured.
It was the visitors who created the first opening with Pat Cox firing down the throat of Thompson on the five minute mark.
You didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to work out that striker Craig Reid was pivotal to County’s plans last night and he was instantly into the action, forcing Anthony Ender into an awkward looking save on six minutes before firing right across goal following Wayne Turk’s smart approach play on ten minutes.
Reid was finding acres of space behind the Rocks defence, particularly drifting out onto the right flank and on 15 minutes he again wriggled free, firing at Ender who should’ve held the ball, spilling it to the feet of Rose who gobbled up the rebound and put County ahead.
However, with all the impetus in the contest, County surrendered that advantage.
Paul Cochlin conceded a corner, Cox attacking the far post after Thompson came for and missed the ball, and heading home on 22 minutes.
Once was unfortunate but twice was criminal and seconds later Cox repeated the trick, Thompson again missing the ball from a corner and Turk this time desperately clearing off his own line.
The end-to-end contest was utterly compelling and on 30 minutes Rose’ superb dipping drive was spectacularly tipped over by Ender (so that was the Ender that.... apologies).
The key concern, against visitors, lest we not forget, 17 points adrift of Blue Square South safety, was the manner of their attacks, each and every time they were in the final third, they looked likely to score.
Amazingly on 35 minutes Cox again rose for a free header from a corner, heading just inches wide of the post as County’s defence were statuesque, and that’s being generous.
The second half brought with it more bad news for County, key man Danny Rose picking up a hip injury and being replaced by youngster Armitage, who was instantly into the action, put clear by Kris Leek, only to roll the ball past Ender, but agonisingly wide of the post, as Holdsworth switched to 4-4-2.
The bad news kept coming as defender Aaron Cook also limped off to be replaced by Ashley Vickers, but just before the hour County were in front again.
The goal was as scrappy as they come and looked offside, but following a penalty box scramble, Leek dragged the ball back across the goal and Cochlin poked home after Kevin Cooper’s shot had been parried.
Suddenly Bognor were defending like a side bottom of the league and within moments it could’ve been 3-1, Rogers’ blasted effort cannoning back out off the upright, though Bognor were within a whisker of a leveller when Jason Downes fired inches wide.
Low on quality but high on endeavour the game continued to swing from end-to-end like a basketball match, Cooper testing Ender on 76 minutes with a dipping effort that was tipped over the bar, before Reid headed straight at Ender following Cooper’s inviting centre as the clock ticked down.
However, County were more resolute at the back in the final stages and were good value for the victory they comfortably held onto, with hope springing eternal ahead of another home game on Saturday.
Newport County: Thompson, Jenkins, Giles, Turk, Cook (Vickers 55), Cochlin, Rose (Armitage 46), Rogers, Reid (Stephens 89), Leek, Cooper Subs not used: Davies, Blackburn Booked: Cooper (dissent, 80)
Bognor: Ender, Smith, Crane, Pearce (Byrne 70), Jupp, Cox, Brinkhurst, Wills, Lynch, Downes, French (McEnery 55) Subs not used: Reichhardt, Woods
Referee: Andy Laver (Portsmouth)
Attendance: 618
Argus star man: Kevin Cooper
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