Brave County lose out at Wembley (From South Wales Argus)

Brave County lose out at Wembley

5:01pm Saturday 12th May 2012 in Newport County & Blue Square Premier Table & Results By Michael Pearlman

NEWPORT County’s dream of winning the FA Trophy was extinguished today after York City’s sharper finishing proved the difference at Wembley.

The Exiles were in control of an exciting first half that made a mockery of them finishing close to the Conference relegation zone whereas the Minstermen will be back at Wembley next weekend for the Conference playoff final.

The gulf in quality was never evident though it was the Yorkshiremen who had the clinical eye for goal, taking their chances when it mattered with a far better display after the interval.

The 10,000 strong support from over the Severn Bridge seemed to inspire the Exiles who were excellent in the first period, matching York in quality of passing and possession and fashioning the better chances.

It was Romone Rose who was always in the thick of the action, forcing Mike Ingham to save in just the second minute as the Exiles forced the pace.

Young academy graduate Lee Evans was a shock starter for Newport and he snarled around in midfield with Lee Minshull surprisingly deployed through the centre as a striker with Sam Foley just off him.

County’s best opportunity of the contest came on eight minutes when lovely work by Nat Jarvis sent Rose clean through but he lacked composure, firing tamely at Ingham with the goal at his mercy.

Jarvis then blasted wide approaching the interval, his effort just evading Sam Foley and Lee Minshull who were within a whisker of touching it home.

However, it was York who dominated after the interval and whereas the Exiles missed their best opportunities, the Minstermen were clinical.

Matty Blair split the County defence on 65 minutes and dinked the ball over Glyn Thompson before Lanre Oyebanjo stroked home following Ashley Chambers’ superb run and cross.

County never quit and kept pushing, Ismail Yakubu hitting the post as the clock ticked down.

The Exiles did the city proud, but simply couldn’t complete the job.

County: Thompson, Pipe, Hughes, Warren, Yakubu, Evans, Minshull, Porter (Knights 79), Foley, Rose (Buchanan 68), Jarvis (Harris 68) Subs not used: Swan, Knights, Harris, Rodgers, Buchanan Booked: Porter (42)

York City: Ingham, Oyebanjo, Meredith, Smith, Parslow, Walker (Reed 90), Chambers (Moke 89), Blair, Challinor, McLaughlin (Fyfield 81), Gibson Subs not used: Musselwhite, Potts Booked: Smith (21) Referee: Anthony Taylor Attendance: 19,844