League Two leaders Newport strike late to beat Morecambe

The Exiles earned their seventh win from eight league fixtures at Rodney Parade thanks to a cool penalty by centre-back Matty Dolan late on.

County went into half-time on level terms after failing to build on poacher Padraig Amond’s close-range opener after 10 minutes.

The Exiles went hunting a second but were instead pegged back by Carlos Mendes-Gomes, who had been put through on goal far too easily.

It looked like well-drilled, hard-working Morecambe would earn at least a point, with the hosts failing to carve out as many chances as they have in recent weeks despite dominance of possession.

But a moment of class by Scott Twine, finding Josh Sheehan with a clipped through ball, earned a chance that Dolan took from the spot, with the Shrimpers’ Stephen Hendrie shown a second yellow for the foul.

The victory maintains the one-point lead over Cheltenham ahead of a trio of away fixtures with Grimsby on Tuesday followed by Leyton Orient and Salford City.

ASSIST: Scott Twine nods across goal for the opener

Manager Michael Flynn was forced into one change with Twine replacing the suspended captain Joss Labadie in midfield while the manager made another alteration with Amond coming in for Jamie Proctor up front.

David Longe-King, who suffered a pre-season groin injury after signing from St Albans City, came onto the bench for the first time where he joined Aaron Lewis, who was also hoping for a debut after signing on loan from Lincoln on deadline day.

Morecambe old boy (in more ways than one) Kevin Ellison also had to settle for substitute role, the veteran forward chomping at the bit in the Bisley Stand and aiming to prove a point after being frozen out by the Shrimpers last season.

County made a bright start, moving the ball well into the wide channels against a Morecambe side who were looking to counter.

It was the visitors that had the first attempt on goal with a corner nodded back to the middle only for Nathaniel Knight-Percival to be unable to generate enough power to stretch Nick Townsend.

Shortly afterwards it was County that got their noses in front when Amond had the simple task of poking home from inches out after Liam Shephard’s excellent left-footed cross from the right was nodded perfectly across the face of goal by the diminutive Twine.

That 11th minute goal was just the ticket against a Shrimpers side who were content to sit in and let the Exiles boss possession and territory.

This was a time to show the ruthless streak that Flynn had demanded as they put the pressure on with crosses and corners.

They didn’t stretch ‘keeper Mark Halstead and paid the price just past the half hour with a leveller that was all too easy.

A lovely through ball by Adam Phillips put Mendes-Gomes in on goal and he fired home the rebound after Townsend had blocked his first effort.

Josh Sheehan almost came up with a swift response on for his powerful effort to go just wide and good defending denied Twine in stoppage time as he was about to pull the trigger on the penalty spot after Scot Bennett and Shephard had combined well.

County looked to regain their advantage in the second half with Twine getting into dangerous areas but the Shrimpers remained a threat on the counter and Flynn made his first changes on the hour, Robbie Willmott coming on for Ryan Haynes and Jamie Proctor replacing Tristan Abrahams.

The home side needed to up the tempo, albeit that was tricky on a testing surface against well-drilled and hard-working opposition.

An away win remained very much a possibility and it took a fine last-ditch tackle by Demetriou to deny Mendes-Gomes after his pace when chasing a long ball was too much for Matty Dolan in the 67th minute.

Flynn turned to Ellison after 75 minutes and it was a statement of intent with the wideman coming on for shielding midfielder Bennett.

However, that attacking move was followed by a pair of chances for the Lancastrians with Slew failing to connect at the near post from a dangerous cross and then Townsend saving superbly after Phillips turned nicely in the box before slamming towards the top left corner.

Yet it was County that struck with eight minutes left when a terrific chipped pass by Twine put Sheehan in on goal and he was brought down by Stephen Hendrie, who will now have a break after his yellow was followed by a red.

Dolan kept his cool with an excellent low penalty and County brought on Longe-King to help with the defensive effort.

They survived some balls pumped into the box for three precious points.

Newport: Townsend, Cooper, Dolan, Demetriou, Shephard, Haynes (Willmott 61), Bennett (Ellison 74), Sheehan (captain), Twine, Amond (Longe-King 88), Abrahams (Proctor 61).
Substitutes: King, Longe-King, Lewis, Willmott, Devitt, Ellison, Proctor.
Yellow cards: 
Goals: Amond, Dolan (penalty)

Morecambe: Halstead, Mellor, Hendrie, Knight-Percival, Lavelle (captain), Davies, Slew, Mendes-Gomes, Kenyon, Phillips, Songo'o.
Substitutes: Turner, Diagouraga, O'Sullivan, Leitch-Smith, Pringle, McAlinden, Cooney.
Yellow cards: Davis, Hendrie, Phillips
Red card: Hendrie
Goals: Mendes-Gomes

Referee: Sam Purkiss.