County impress in defeat

9:24pm Tuesday 22nd July 2008

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County 0 Carmarthen 1

NEWPORT County boss Dean Holdsworth will be happy enough despite his side slipping to a first pre-season defeat, losing 1-0 to Welsh Premier outfit Carmarthen at Chepstow.

The Exiles were the better side for the majority of the contest before Tim Hicks’ late winner consigned them to defeat.

The Newport boss used 20 players during the course of the 90 minutes and will be content, County passing the ball crisply and retaining possession with a pleasing regularity.

Before kick-off, the Exiles arriving shortly after 4pm, Holdsworth conducted an opening training session on the decent looking Chepstow playing surface, new boys Kevin Cooper and Paul Hall taking a prominent role along with player/ coach Steve Jenkins.

Holdsworth again started proceedings with a 4-2-3-1 formation, Phil Walsh again spearheading the attack with triallists Leon Fisher and Danny Wring (ex-Team Bath and Torquay) on either flank, Danny Rose and Kevin Cooper alternating positions ahead of the deep-lying Adie Harris.

The Exiles were the better side in the opening period, Rose again looking a great prospect thanks to his excellent range of passing and positional sense.

He created the first opening of the contest, Walsh heading over with a difficult chance.

The Exiles were rarely threatened, but goalkeeper Glyn Thompson did produce one fine stop when the visitors broke on 14 minutes.

On 17 minutes new-boy Cooper was within a whisker of opening his County account, firing a tremendous dipping effort from 25-yards, brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by Carmarthen goalkeeper Neil Thomas.

Another piece of precise play from Rose fashioned another opportunity on the half hour, his teasing cross headed wide by Fisher, who impressed with a fine workrate on the left flank.

Fisher was involved just before the break, releasing Cooper who finished neatly, only for the referee to rule the goal out for offside.

Holdsworth switched to a 4-4-2 at the start of the second half - making five changes - the Exiles initially on the back-foot with Thompson making two smart saves.

Triallist Anthony Church entered the fray and it was quickly apparent why boss Holdsworth has compared him with Nathan Davies who he partnered in midfield, allowing County’s wingers to bomb on.

Newport-born keeper Scott James also joined proceedings, his first appearance of the season, while defender Martyn Giles continued his rehabilitation from a serious back problem, almost scoring the opener with a fim header on 76 minutes.

The substitutions continued to come thick and fast as Holdsworth rotated throughout the second period, adopting a third formation in an hour when County went to 4-3-3, Richard Evans also introduced.

Shortly after the hour mark the Exiles again put the ball in the net, but this time it was Craig Hughes’ effort ruled out for offside.

Interestingly, Jamaican World Cup striker Hall was introduced as an orthodox winger at the interval, but County fans will no doubt be pleased to see that the 35-year-old isn’t lacking in mobility or desire, a statement that also applies to Cooper who looks a class act.

Hall even came close to a late goal, but was denied with a firm header after a fine run from fullback Paul Keddle.

Carmarthen made fewer changes - under the watchful eye of ex-County duo Damon Searle and Mark Dodds, who appeared to be running things from the visitors bench - but despite their cohesion in the second half, it was Newport who looked physically fitter and finished stronger.

However, the sting in the tale saw Carmarthen snatch a late win when Tim Hicks bundled home, Church coming closest to levelling in stoppage time, before Evans headed over Hillier’s teasing cross.

County: Thompson (James 57), Jenkins (Hillier 59), Collins (Keddle 46), Harris (Davies 46), Skelton (Giles, 46), Hillier (Skelton 54), Wring (Hughes 46), Rose (Hartland 59), Walsh (Church 54), Cooper (Evans 59), Fisher (Hall 46)