Newport County AFC v Stevenage FC

It was Alex Gilbey, a key part of the Exiles’ 2013 promotion-winning side, who scored the only goal with a rare moment of quality in a dreary match three minutes into the second half.

Stevenage could and should have won more comfortably as County’s return to action following the suspension of EFL fixtures at the weekend proved to be a miserable experience.

Having stewed on a 2-0 home defeat to Grimsby Town for 10 days, Rowberry made three changes to his starting XI on a wet night at the Lamex Stadium in Hertfordshire.

And they were three big calls with defensive stalwart Mickey Demetriou, who captained the side against the Mariners, dropped to the bench alongside Nathan Moriah-Welsh and Thierry Nevers, who had both made exciting starts to their County careers since arriving on loan last month.

In came Priestley Farquharson, Matty Dolan and Will Evans as Rowberry looked to withstand a physical bombardment from a side rejuvenated since the arrival of Steve Evans as manager in March.

The 59-year-old Glaswegian steered Boro away from the choppy waters of a relegation battle last season and they have made their best start to an EFL campaign this time round.

The hosts came into the match in second place in the League table with five wins, a draw and a defeat from their first seven matches.

It was no surprise, therefore, that Stevenage forced the Exiles onto the back foot in the opening stages, but the visitors stood up to the challenge and defended resolutely with goalkeeper Nick Townsend not troubled in the first half.

County created little themselves until James Waite dragged a shot wide from the inside the area after being teed up by Bogle just after the half-hour mark.

There was a brief moment of alarm at the other end soon afterwards when James Clarke collided with Jordan Roberts in the box, but referee Oliver Langford waved away the lacklustre penalty appeals from the home side.

And it was Bogle who had the best chance of the first half on 41 minutes when he outmuscled Jake Reeves but placed a side-foot shot into the side netting with his left foot when he would have been better off shooting across the goalkeeper with his right foot.

Rowberry would have been relatively content with his players at half-time but all their hard work was undone within three minutes of the restart as Gilbey curled into the top corner from 20 yards out after some sloppy defending from Farquharson.

Stevenage grew in confidence after that sparkling strike and County were hanging on.

After surviving a scramble in the box and a suspicion of handball, the visitors were fortunate to stay in the contest as Luke Norris fired wide from distance before Jamie Reid fizzed another effort just past the other post a moment later after intercepting a misplaced pass.

Norris then headed just off target before sending a half-volley inches over the top from a corner and another Reid effort from the edge of the area was a yard wide.

Rowberry switched from 3-5-2 to 4-2-2-2 with Moriah-Welsh replacing Farquharson just before the hour mark but the Bournemouth loanee failed to turn the tide.

Nevers replaced Evans 10 minutes later, but the West Ham United youngster was also unable to spark a County revival.

The final throw of the dice was a triple substitution 14 minutes from time as Adam Lewis, Chanka Zimba and Hayden Lindley replaced Cameron Norman, Scot Bennett and Bogle but there was no way back for Rowberry’s men.

Stevenage (3-4-3): T Ashby-Hammond; D Sweeney, T Vancooten, C Piergianni; K Smith (L Wildin, 78), A Gilbey, J Reeves, M Clark (S Earley, 78); J Roberts (J Taylor, 84), L Norris (D Rose, 88), J Reid.

Subs not used: A Chapman, D Campbell, A Read.

Booked: J Roberts, T Roberts, D Sweeney.

Scorer: A Gilbey 48

Newport County (3-5-2): N Townsend; J Clarke, D Drysdale, P Farquharson (N Moriah-Welsh, 59); C Norman (Adam Lewis, 76), S Bennett (H Lindley, 76) J Waite, M Dolan, Aaron Lewis; O Bogle (C Zimba, 76), W Evans (T Nevers, 69).

Subs not used: J Day, M Demetriou.

Attendance: 2,109