County 2 Braintree 1 – Exiles safe passage in FA Trophy (From South Wales Argus)

County 2 Braintree 1 – Exiles safe passage in FA Trophy

12:12pm Monday 23rd November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

NEWPORT County can look forward to today’s FA Trophy first-round draw after securing a hard-fought and somewhat fortuitous victory over Braintree Town at Spytty Park on Saturday.

In a match played in conditions that were ideal for ducks, scuba divers and certainly not footballers, County were rewarded for playing the conditions well in the first half, giving them a decisive cushion at the interval that compensated for a rotten second-half showing.

County’s performance after the interval was as bad as anything we’ve seen from them all season, but a strong defensive display means they were able to hold firm and secure their safe passage through without requiring a replay.

Boss Dean Holdsworth will be pleased with the resilience his side showed, not to mention the stand-out performances of some of his fringe players, but less so with a very poor second half matched by a truly abysmal attendance.

Blame it on the recession, competition, Christmas or the weather (and all four reasons are valid) but it was never likely to be a crackling atmosphere on Saturday with less than 700 in attendance.

In terms of the performance, perhaps it’s easy to judge County harshly with the level they consistently play at, with three fringe men in particular extremely impressive.

Heading the list of top performances was Kerry Morgan, how on earth the on-loan Swansea forward didn’t win the sponsors’ man-of-the- match award is anyone’s guess, as  he was by a distance the best player on the field.

Performing with exceptional work rate and undeniable desire to impress given a rare start, Morgan showed exactly why he’s rated highly and has even featured this season for the Premier League-chasing Swans.

Morgan scored County’s first goal, was the architect of their second and was their only attacking threat in the entire second half.

Right behind Morgan in stand-out performances were two others, goal-scorer Dave Gilroy, clearly refreshed and full of confidence after his spell at Weston, and new signing Ashan Holgate.

Holgate was superb in a difficult physical game, he exhibited a fine range of passing and was a threat aerially as well, an asset County lack in attacking areas of the field.

Other than selecting those three players, Holdsworth kept things very much as they were, showing that he’s taking the FA Trophy seriously by picking a strong side, minus flu victim Martyn Giles, Charlie Henry (thigh strain) and Danny Rose (bruised foot).

With the rain lashing down and the wind sweeping across Spytty Park, the Exiles enjoyed the assistance of the gale in the first period and took full advantage, showing they can play a more direct brand of football if they are forced to do so.

Over the 90 minutes Braintree may well have enjoyed more possession than Newport, but the Exiles were more clinical, particularly in the first period when they rarely failed to hit the target in a contest with few clear efforts on goal.

Both sides exchanged early chances, Thompson saving from the lively George Purcell before Braintree goalkeeper David Blackmore denied Morgan with his legs after a darting run and powerful effort.

Morgan was too much for the visitors to handle, and on 22 minutes it was his curling free kick that put County in front, Morgan firing the ball across goal from around 30 yards out, aiming at the far post, just as any professionally trained player would be taught to do.

He judged his effort perfectly and the ball evaded every single player in the area attempting to get a touch, landing perfectly in the corner of the net.

Morgan’s confidence was soaring, and five minutes later his delivery was even better, putting County in control.

Firing a free kick 50 yards out with a howling wind is no easy feat, but Morgan flighted the ball stunningly, one of the few times in the contest any player managed to take a set piece with such accuracy, Gilroy timing his run brilliantly to power home a header, his tenth goal of the campaign, levelling hotshot Craig Reid.

The distance on the free kick was a subject of much debate, the Braintree bench unnecessarily barracking both the referee and Morgan as to where it should be taken. His celebration, raising both arms right in front of the away dugout, was a nice moment for the home side.

The Exiles were in control, and just before the interval were amazingly denied a third goal following the best move of the match.

Despite the sodden turf, Gilroy dropped deep and collected the ball with his back to goal, turning brilliantly and passing into space ahead for Reid, who collected instantly and rounded the goalkeeper, firing the ball at the open goal, only to be denied by a stunning last- ditch clearance from defender Mark Jones, Morgan again testing Blackmore moments later.

However, the second half was a struggle for County, who can’t blame the weather, which was less severe after the break.

They simply didn’t pass the ball well, and other than off-target efforts from Gilroy and Morgan, didn’t create a chance.

The visitors got one back on 51 minutes, Purcell pouncing to fire home in the area after the Exiles failed to deal with a long throw.

Lively Purcell volleyed over with a Mark Hughes-type effort on 68 minutes before Jones’ powerful drive was well saved by Thompson as County were penned back.

Braintree kept pushing, but Alton Thelwell and Gary Warren were in fine form and other than Sean Marks’ overhead kick held by Thompson, the Essex outfit were unable to find the target, meaning County progress to the first round.

County: Thompson, Bignot, Collins, Turk, Warren, Thelwell, Holgate, Rogers, Reid, Gilroy (Foley 70), Morgan.

Subs not used: Rose, Cochlin, Hartrick, Blackburn.

Booked: Morgan (foul, 55), Bignot (foul, 81).

Braintree: Blackmore, Peters, Jones, Bruce, Goodacre, Bruno (Power 78), Mingle, Game, Purcell, Marks, Rhodes.

Subs not used: Duncan, Starkey, Emmanuel, McDonald.

Booked: None.

Referee: Richard Corp (Frome).

Attendance: 684.

Argus star man: Kerry Morgan.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)