ACCRINGTON 2 COUNTY 2

NEWPORT County AFC were forced to settle for a battling point in awful conditions in Accrington, after twice being pegged back by the League Two high-flyers.

On a day for ducks and a pitch that would have done Sharon Davies nicely for a few lengths of backstroke, the Exiles twice led through subs Yan Klukowksi and Scott Boden but couldn’t hold their advantage.

Boss John Sheridan is always loathe to overly change a winning line-up, though his anger at County’s capitulation in the cup at Brackley, forcing the need for an FA Cup replay, might have made today a little less galling, forced as he was to make a change.

Midfielder Tommy O’Sullivan is away on international duty with Wales U21s and was replaced by Alex Rodman for his first Football League start in amber colours.

That had a double impact, freeing up a spot on the substitutes’ bench for Andrew Hughes, back following 11 months out with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

However, the Exiles weren’t all a squad of previously caged ‘tigers’ like Hughes, midfielder Medy Elito forcing the County staff into a mad scramble back to the hotel after he forgot his boots!

In previous campaigns a trip to Accrington has represented a side battling relegation facing one chasing promotion, a situation not altered at the Crown Ground, just with the shoes very much on the other feet.

Accrington are flying high under John Coleman, up to fourth in League Two before the weekend fixtures and they’ll never have enjoyed greater home advantage than on Saturday.

The pitch was absolutely battered by persistent rain and the ball was barely running, every piece of close control coming accompanied by a puddle of water, every short pass snagging on the turf like it was wet cement.

Unsurprisingly the contest started with the hosts on top, playing with the confidence of a side flying-high and who know every nook and cranny to exploit when the playing surface at the Wham Stadium is quite so sodden.

Seamus Conneely, Sean McConville and Josh Windass all tested goalkeeper Joe Day inside ten minutes, Accrington on the front foot with the game unfolding as most would have expected.

Indeed, in conditions more suited to ducks than footballers, an injury scenario also seemed likely and so it proved, Janoi Donacien losing his footing and leaving the field on a stretcher, replaced by Yan Klukowski less than a quarter of the way through the match.

County got used to the conditions as the half wore on and began to threaten themselves, Lenell John-Lewis heading wide and Medy Elito dragging wide with a powerful right-footed effort. However, had County not sent their press officer on a mercy dash to Liverpool to retrieve his boots, the former England C man wouldn’t even have been playing!

County held firm until the interval despite mounting pressure, the hosts so close to opening the scoring just before the break when a thunderbolt from Piero Mingoia struck the angle between crossbar and post and bounced clear following the move of the match.

Parity was more than Newport deserved and they were again grateful to Day, who saved from Matt Crooks within seconds of the restart.

However, the Exiles were looking to break quickly and from Barrow’s cross – no longer hampered by water as he was in the first period – John-Lewis curled inches wide of Jason Mooney’s goal.

It was to be more than a warning shot, as five minutes later Newport led, against the run of play, with sub Yan Klukowski whipping his foot expertly round Jazzi Barnum-Bobb’s cross to curl into the top corner.

The Exiles have rarely led this term, and holding a lead has been even rarer, so it was no surprise that the hosts equalised four minutes later, Billy Kee smashing home after brave defending from the Exiles saw Scott Barrow clear off the line.

If anything, the goal conceded sparked Newport, who suddenly started breaking on the counter with real menace, allowing them to restore their lead on 65 minutes.

It was another terrific effort, this time started by Klukowski whose pinpoint cross was swept home by fellow sub Scott Boden, with a flourish, first time.

The Exiles have only led a game twice once this season, so were in relatively unchartered territory, but fortune didn’t favour them, as brave as they were.

The hosts didn’t even muster a shot until the 76th minute, but it was a belter, Seamus Conneely blasting the upright with Day beaten, the ball falling cruelly straight into the path of Mark Crooks who simply couldn’t miss the rebound.

It was harsh on a Newport side who dominated the second period on balance, but perhaps a measure of their progress is the fact the hosts never once looked likely to find a winner with Newport doing the late pressing.

Newport are now five unbeaten and four points clear of the drop zone.

Accrington: Mooney, Pearson, Mingoia, Windass, McConville, Crooks, Winnard (Barry 58), Davies, Conneely, Kee, Halliday

Subs not used: Etheridge, Proctor, Barry, Gornell, Carver, Quansah, Wakefield Booked: Davies, Conneely

Newport: Day, Barnum-Bobb, Barrow, Donacien (Klukowski 21), Bennett, Partridge, Rodman, Byrne, Elito, Ansah (Boden 60), John-Lewis

Subs not used: Taylor, Holmes, Green, Hughes, Collins

Booked: Barnum-Bobb, Rodman

Referee: Chris Sargison

Attendance: 1552 (away, 106)