Newport County beaten 4-2 at Crewe after Demetriou double

Exiles legend Demetriou will grab most of the headlines after his double against a side he represented 300 times and captained, goals that put the Railwaymen on their way to extending a Gresty Road unbeaten run that goes back to the start of February.

However, County should have had a chance to hit the front from the spot when Aaron Wildig was brought down in the area as he went to finish a wonderful move in the fourth minute.

Even with the ‘double jeopardy’ rules it could have been a dismissal, as it looked like a cynical foul, yet the lack of a whistle from referee Adam Herczeg stunned most in the ground, whether in red or amber.

That was followed by goalkeeping errors at both ends with ex-County captain Mickey Demetriou tapping in against the side he played 300 times for after seven minutes and Will Evans nodding the leveller in the 21st minute.

SUBDUED: Mickey Demetriou didn't celebrate after scoring for Crewe against County (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

It was 1-1 at the break but Demetriou struck again – his third of the season – after 56 minutes followed by a Chris Long penalty and Elliot Nevitt strike.

Harry Charsley cut the gap in the 75th minute but there Crewe regained their composure to close out the game.

Like at Accrington, there was much of the performance to be lauded – especially some lovely combination play with the ball on the deck – but conceding four on the road is never likely to lead to any points no matter how much graft is put in.

County, who were already without Declan Drysdale and James Clarke, were hit hard by the first-half loss of Kyle Jameson that left them looking shaky after the restart.

County manager Graham Coughlan unsurprisingly named the same XI and bench that produced the goods against Doncaster with Clarke, who had been laid low by a bug, having to be content with laying out the cones as a travelling reserve.

They will hope he is back at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

Crewe named Exiles legend Demetriou at the heart of their defence while forward Courtney Baker-Richardson, who helped Dom Telford win the golden boot in 2022, was a substitute.

County started rapidly against Donny and did just the same to create the opening that led to Mr Herczeg’s lack of a decision, Shane McLoughlin crossing from the right and Wildig brought down by Luke Offord as he closed in.

FURIOUS: Aaron Wildig was denied an early penalty for County at Crewe (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

The injustice was compounded after seven minutes when a free-kick was swung into the box, Nick Townsend made a mess of it and Demetriou had the simple task of slotting. He didn’t celebrate.

Crewe looked lively going forward but were let down by the final ball while a half-chance went begging for the Exiles when Wildig couldn’t control a superb diagonal ball inside the area – could he have headed or volleyed at goal?

No matter, County were back level after 20 minutes after another nice move led to a cross from the right and a Demetriou clearance that looped up in the air.

Harvey Davies should have claimed it but Evans put on pressure and reaped the rewards to nod home, the ‘keeper not saved by a whistle.

Davies went some way towards making up for the error in the 28th minute when he tipped a looping Seb Palmer-Houlden header over after the striker was found by a beautiful, drilled ball by Bryn Morris.

The stopper saved his side again in the 33rd minute when he got a boot to Charsley’s effort in a one-on-one after good work by Palmer-Houlden.

It was a lively half and County suffered a blow as the break approached with Kyle Jameson forced off with a knee problem, leading to Irish novice Josh Seberry’s first League Two outing.

The Exiles had an escape when Ryan Cooney powered a ball across the face of goal and it was 1-1 at the break.

Ryan Delaney heads clear for County (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Crewe started the second half on the front foot and the pressure paid off when a free-kick was whipped in from the right for Demetriou to head in.

County needed to respond again but instead they were chasing a two-goal deficit after captain Ryan Delaney committed a foul in the box and Chris Long, thankfully on penalty duty ahead of Demetriou, slammed in.

It was four when Elliot Nevitt curled past Townsend but the Exiles at least responded with Harry Charsley bursting through and beating Davies in a one-on-one at his near post.

It was his last act with a trio of subs – James Waite, Matty Bondswell and Nathan Wood coming on.

Bondswell thought he should have had a penalty for handful when a powerful drive was deflected behind – and was booked for his protests – and County kept probing away.

Ten minutes of added time was signalled and Waite had half a chance halfway through it but couldn’t generate enough power on a header to seriously trouble Davies.

Crewe goals: Demetriou (2), Long (penalty), Nevitt

County: Townsend, McLoughlin, Delaney (captain), Jameson (Seberry 42), Lewis, Bennett (Bondswell 74), Morris, Charsley (Waite 74), Wildig, Evans, Palmer-Houlden (Wood 74).

Substitutes not used: Maxted, Payne, Rai.

Goals: Evans, Charsley.

Yellow: Bennett, Bondswell, Waite.

Referee: Adam Herczeg.

Attendance: 3,619 (215 County)