Too many holes in County defence (From South Wales Argus)

Too many holes in County defence

10:30am Monday 25th August 2008

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COUNTY 4 - DORCHESTER 4

NEWPORT County’s inability to defend even the most basic of situations saw them squander a first win of the season on Saturday as Dorchester came from behind three times to salvage a draw.

After an attacking display that would on another day have done much to silence manager Dean Holdsworth’s sceptics, the Exiles produced a defensive performance of absolutely shocking ineptitude, leading to an equaliser from Kevin Hill deep in stoppage time.

Holdsworth will now look to open his account at Team Bath this afternoon, fully aware that the defensive frailties of his side are as bad as ever, 11 goals conceded in the opening four games.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. But neither was it built on a foundation of jelly.

We need to go all the way back to the dying embers of the John Cornforth reign to remember such a shocking defensive performance from County, when they were so unequivocally to blame for their own downfall.

Because Dorchester, in the context of the Blue Square South, are no great shakes, unlikely to be pushing for anything more than mid-table respectability come the season’s end.

The visitors didn’t score four goals thanks to expert counter-attacking or stunning finishing, they merely put set pieces in good areas or attacked County’s vulnerable personnel at the back, time and time again, with positive results.

What is all the more frustrating is that County’s attacking play was truly terrific at times, not least because of a virtuoso performance from young midfielder Danny Rose, a gem of a signing from Holdsworth.

The manner in which the Exiles recovered, from 3-2 down to 4-3 up, seemingly at the death, speaks volumes for the spirit in the camp and desire to succeed.

The composure and selflessness showed by substitute Rob Duffy in setting up Craig Hughes for what we all thought was the winning goal, emphasises that Holdsworth is harnessing a squad of players who would rather win together than succeed individually, another massive positive.

Those are the positives. The defence rests. Just like Newport County’s.

Where to start? Dave Collins, who has done reasonably well before Saturday, was poor, giving the ball away too often, caught out of position with a monotonous regularity.

Marty Giles looks to have neither the match-fitness to be starting at the moment, nor the physical capability of playing with a footballing central defensive partner such as Ian Hillier.

As a result, Hillier looks shaky and short of confidence, lacking the vocal presence he seemed to find when partnering Lee Jarman last term.

A new centre-half is a must. If only County had a giant defender, the kind who was seemingly so important to the club, they would pay his medical bills for two years as he sat on the sidelines. Oh.

Any one of the aforementioned Paul Cochlin, Lee Jarman or Mark Dodds would walk into the County side at the moment, so much so that I understand tentative inquiries have actually been made to Bath and Cochlin, though the requirement of a fee is likely to scupper the idea.

It shouldn’t be overlooked that County had some great moments on Saturday, not least when Rose opened the scoring after just six minutes.

Collins’ long and accurate free kick was headed back across goal by Phil Walsh, where Rose – just like mentor Paul Scholes – was on hand to smash the ball home.

While the goal should have settled County’s nerves, a succession of corners gave cause for concern, with the third time proving the charm as Kevin Hill headed home totally unmarked on 18 minutes.

County pressed again and Walsh’s header was tipped over expertly by Gareth Stewart from Collins’ centre.

The visitors almost grabbed the advantage on 34 minutes after a long ball wasn’t dealt with by Giles, but Thompson came out bravely to block Jamie Mudge’s effort.

County continued to pour forward and after Hughes was adjudged – harshly – to have been fouled just outside the area on the left after 38 minutes, midfielder Adie Harris opened his account with a beautiful flipped free kick right out of Ronald Koeman’s play book.

County continued to play the better football at the start of the second period, but a punt from defence just before the hour flicked on by Mudge led to an equaliser.

Again Giles made an almighty hash of things, losing his footing seemingly in control of a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge with Ryan Moss, who kept his composure to round Thompson and tap home. How different Giles’ day might have been if he’d scored a free header from a corner in the first half!

County gamely continued to push for a third, Holdsworth sacrificing workhorse Anthony Church with striker Jemal Easter.

However, it was Dorchester’s substitute Leon Osei who scored the fifth goal of the game just after Kevin Stephens had prevented Mudge from a certain goal.

Osei bulldozed through Collins and Giles with his first touches before expertly swivelling to score in off the base of the post from 10 yards on 79 minutes.

The groans were audible, the discontent palpable.

But County possessed a good spirit and incredibly fought back to a winning position.

Danny Clay’s lazy lunge on Hughes saw him sent off by inconsistent referee Eamonn Smith, and from Collins’ outswinging free kick Easter pounced on indecision to lash home the first goal for an Exiles striker this season with five minutes remaining.

Better was to follow. In the final minute of normal time Rose collected and bombed forward, shaping to shoot before slipping a wonderful pass through to Duffy who unselfishly centred for Hughes to tap home despite the suspicion of offside. Joy unconfined. Game over.

But it wasn’t to be. Deep into injury time and for the first time in the second half Dorchester forced a corner and we all knew what was coming.

Despite Harris clearing, Jake Smeeton was allowed to cross and Collins missed the ball, Hill’s backpost drive hitting the post. However, no Exiles player reacted and Hill, incredibly, got a second bite, tapping home.

It was to be the final twist in an incredible game, which will be remembered for County’s woeful defending.

County: Thompson, Stephens, Collins, Church (Eater 76), Hillier, Giles, Rose, Harris, Walsh (Duffy 52), Hughes, Hall.

Subs not used: Cooper, Jenkins, Church.

Dorchester: Stewart, Peprah-Annan (Marsh-Brown 46), Smeeton, Clay, Liburd, Browne (Walker 46), Crittendean, Hill, Moss, Mudge, Nicholson (Osei 79).

Booked: Clay (dissent 54), (foul, 83), Walker (foul, 65), Mudge (foul, 67), Marsh-Brown (dissent 90).

Sent off: Clay (two yellows, 84).

Referee: Eamonn Smith (Mayford).

Attendance: 852.

Argus star man: Danny Rose.

COUNTY ARE AT TEAM BATH THIS AFTERNOON. SEE TOMORROW'S ARGUS FOR REPORT

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