Newport County and Carlisle share spoils in League Two

The League Two spoils were shared after a 1-1 draw, a fair result that ended the Exiles’ four-game losing streak.

County led 1-0 at the break thanks to persistence and a smart finish by Nathan Moriah-Welsh in the 30th minute after good work by fellow young loanee Thierry Nevers.

READ MORE: Rowberry reaction

It was only the second time in 14 games this season that the Exiles had struck first but their hopes of seeing the game out were ended with 15 minutes to go when Corey Whelan fired in from a corner.

The Cumbrians were close to a first ever win at Rodney Parade in added time when defender Paul Huntington hooked a shot against the bar but County escaped.

It wasn’t the win that Rowberry was desperate for but at least the Exiles totted up a point, something they had failed to do in nine of their last 10 in the league on home soil.

Now they have a week to prepare for a very tough task at early pacesetters Leyton Orient.

Carlisle posed plenty of problems and it would have been harsh had they left pointless while County showed plenty of spirit and passed their character test.

Huw Evans Agency (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

The manager made two changes to the side that started against Barrow with central defender James Clarke and forward Will Evans coming in at the expense of Priestley Farquharson and James Waite.

Captain Matty Dolan missed out with a foot injury suffered against Forest Green Rovers in midweek but experienced midfielder Aaron Wildig was back as a substitute after missing the four losses with a groin problem.

Carlisle were without dangerman Omari Patrick but Kristian Dennis, their top scorer with six in the league, was fit to start after a hamstring strain.

County started in a back four with both Evans and Nevers playing off striker Omar Bogle, who had the first effort in the third minute with a scuffed shot from distance straight at Tomas Holy.

That was swiftly followed by a Carlisle counter but Owen Moxon curled a shot over the bar despite having too much time outside the area.

Moxon had an even better chance to open the scoring in the 13th minute after another of the individual howlers that have blighted County’s campaign.

A cross came in from the right and Norman made a mess of his clearance at the back post only for the visiting midfielder to scuff his shot wide of Nick Townsend’s goal.

Another mistake led to another opening for the Cumbrians after 19 minutes when, with shades of Barrow’s opener, a long ball led to a two on one.

Young Bournemouth midfielder Moriah-Welsh defended superbly to allow help to scramble back and the job was completed by a crunching Mickey Demetriou block.

The Exiles had half a chance after 26 minutes when Adam Lewis whipped in a free-kick from deep but Clarke was unable to head on target while stretching.

But they got their noses in front in the 30th minute when Nevers was elusive and industrious down the left to cross for Moriah-Welsh, who got his boot to the ball and then nipped in to dink past Holy.

County had a chance to quickly double their lead but Bogle couldn’t get onto a through ball after good link-up play between Evans and Nevers but then they were lucky to still be in front.

Huw Evans Agency (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

A cross from Jordan Gibson was played by Dennis to Fin Back but the Nottingham Forest loanee, son of Leicester and England rugby great Neil, fired straight at Townsend.

Another opening came and went for the Cumbrians after a slip by Clarke, Dennis being wasteful in the box, and the visitors must have wondered how they were behind at the break.

Carlisle started on the front foot but County held firm against a pair of corners from the left and a dinked free-kick that was commandingly claimed by Townsend on his 100th appearance for the club.

An hour passed without any chances of note and it was the visitors that had to chase the game, pushing Jon Mellish into midfield from defence and bringing on subs Jayden Harris and Sonny Hilton.

Good snapping by County won the ball for Bogle to try an audacious lob from distance after 65 minutes but Holy never really had to rush back in panic as the shot drifted wide.

Rowberry made his first change in the 70th minute by replacing Nevers with Waite but the hosts were getting deeper and deeper.

The leveller came in the 75th minute when a corner found its way to Whelan and the defender, a late inclusion in the XI, gave Townsend no chance with a powerful drive from inside the box.

Carlisle scented blood yet it was County that went close in the 82nd minute when a long throw by Mickey Demetriou somehow eluded amber shirts after a flick-on.

Should the Exiles stick or twist? Carlisle remained a danger with subtitute Sonny Hilton especially lively.

And it was the visitors that came within a whisker of the lead in the second of six added minutes when Huntington hooked a shot at goal from a corner only for the Exiles to be saved by the bar.

County: Townsend, Norman, Clarke, Demetriou (captain), Adam Lewis, Lindley (Willmott 90), Bennett, Moriah-Welsh, Nevers (Waite 69), Bogle (Zimba 90), Evans.

Substitutes: Day, Drysdale, Aaron Lewis, Willmott, Waite, Wildig.

Yellow: Nevers, Bennett, Goal: Moriah-Welsh.

Carlisle: Holy, Armer, Moxon, Whelan, Huntington, Gibson, Guy, Dennis, Mellish, Back, Stretton.

Substitutes: Kelly, Hilton, Charters, Hilton, Bollado, Harris, Idehen.

Yellow: Gibson.

Goal: Whelan.

Referee: Keith Stroud Attendance: 3,876 (188 Carlisle)