AFTER a 45-minute delay, Tom Owen-Evans' second-half strike was enough to earn Newport County AFC a precious 1-0 win at Exeter City and three vital points in the battle to beat the drop. Here's what we learned...
1. Better late than never
County could have made it to the other St James’ Park in Newcastle in the time it took them to get to Exeter.
There was little the team bus could have done to avoid the M5 gridlock but they may be setting off a little earlier for the Easter Monday trip to Plymouth Argyle.
Can't believe we haven't moved for over an hour 😫 Hope the fans are having a better journey @NewportCounty pic.twitter.com/HvxEwEv2fO
— Tom Owen-Evans (@TomOwenEvans) April 8, 2017
2. County can win tough away games
With six games to go the theory was the Exiles had to win their home games and hope to nick the odd point on the road so three points in this game was a big bonus.
Having held Plymouth at Home Park in the FA Cup with 10 men there’s no reason why a confident County side can’t get something on Easter Monday and the trip to Carlisle United – where they’ve won on their past two visits – should hold no fears either.
3. Tom loves playing at Exeter
Tom Owen-Evans scored a cracker at St James Park to help the County under-18s to victory in the FA Youth Cup back in 2014 and history repeated itself with his superb strike to win a crucial three points.
The 20-year-old academy graduate fully deserved his first senior goal for an excellent all-round display and it banished the memory of the goal-that-wasn’t against Morecambe earlier in the season.
What a result and performance from the boys! Dug in till the end. No words can describe the feeling. Thanks for all the messages! 🙌🏼⚽️🔶 pic.twitter.com/VvkblZfRLK
— Tom Owen-Evans (@TomOwenEvans) April 8, 2017
4. Randall key asset on decent pitches
Michael Flynn could have shifted Scot Bennett back to midfield and gone with a defensive approach but, with Sean Rigg injured and Joss Labadie suspended, he opted to start both Owen-Evans and Mark Randall.
It was a positive move designed to add creativity from the middle of the park and it worked a treat with Randall (below) showing his pedigree with some superb passing on a good surface. But can he do it against Yeovil at Rodney Parade on Good Friday?
MATCH ACTION 📸 pic.twitter.com/g4l2oFkif3
— Newport County AFC (@NewportCounty) April 8, 2017
5. Bird still struggling
In a side overflowing with confidence, Ryan Bird sticks out as the one player who is struggling to show his true potential right now.
The striker seems unable to make the most of high balls into the box and was replaced by Aaron Williams just after the hour. His starting spot is under threat.
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