Newport County suffer fifth loss on the spin to Accrington

The Exiles were beaten 3-1 at Rodney Parade to endure a nightmare streak last suffered under Graham Westley in the winter of the Great Escape campaign of 2016/17.

Thankfully this season there are no such fears at the basement but injury-hit County look a side devoid of confidence and energy after previously showing so much snap and fight.

It was 1-1 at half-time after County hit the front with another superb strike by midfielder Bryn Morris in the 13th minute, his eighth goal of a terrific first campaign in Newport, only for Alex Henderson to head Accrington level in the 22nd.

The visitors were in front just 20 seconds after the restart when Tommy Leigh scored on the turn from six yards out and County were lucky that their shambolic start to the second half didn’t lead to more Stanley strikes.

Yet Accrington got their two-goal cushion in the 67th minute when more poor defending allowed Joe Pritchard to score from close range.

County had a goal chalked off in the first minute of added time and then the tin hat was put on a miserable night when Adam Lewis was shown red by showman referee Darren Drysdale after a dust-up.

CELEBRATION: Accrington after their third goal (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

Ultimately Accrington were good value for just their second win in their last 11 against a County side who couldn’t be accused of lacking appetite, just quality in key moments.

On 55 points, they remain short of manager Graham Coughlan’s target of beating last season’s tally of 57 with Tranmere and Salford at home then Bradford away to achieve it.

Coughlan made four changes with Jonny Maxted making a first start since October ahead of in-form goalkeeper Nick Towsend.

Omar Bogle was in the XI for the first time since Boxing Day up front with Seb Palmer-Houlden, with top scorer Will Evans, Offrande Zanzala and Luke Jephcott dropping to the bench.

Matty Bondswell was recalled and was in the XI with fellow left-sider Adam Lewis, which meant a change of formation.

County started in a 4-5-1 with captain Scot Bennett sitting in midfield with Bryn Morris and the trio of Bondswell, Harry Charsley and Palmer-Houlden behind Bogle.

The hosts hit the front in the 13th minute, strangely thanks to Charsley not having the pace to go all the way for a one-on-one.

He was played in by Bennett and opted to check back onto his right rather than swing with his left and he found Morris on the edge of the area.

The ever-present midfielder smashed another contender for his personal goal of the season competition with another cracker into the top right corner from the rugby 22 marking.

For the record, it was a great hit but not one to rival the one against Walsall in Newport or at Wimbledon.

County suddenly were playing with more confidence but were then hit on the counter in the 22nd minute after a promising attack broke down in the Stanley box when Bogle couldn’t find his pass.

Accrington broke and Jack Nolan crossed for Henderson to give Maxted no chance with his header; it was too easy for Nolan to cut past Kyle Jameson for the assist, too easy for Henderson in between Harrison Bright and Matt Baker at the far post.

That led to a good spell from Stanley and they wanted a penalty when Brad Hills headed at goal from a corner but referee Drysdale deemed there was nothing wrong with Lewis’ block in front of goal.

Accrington were posing problems with their crosses into the box while County weren’t quite getting their delivery right, leading to a bout of pressure as half-time approached going unrewarded.

Bondswell’s evening was ended just before the whistle when he went down after being booked for a wise foul to stop a counter with top scorer Evans put into action down the left.

Coughlan made another change at the break, presumably planned, with fit-again Bogle replaced by Zanzala.

However, the next key incident came at the other end just 20 seconds after the restart with the Exiles failing to clear their lines, the ball returned to the box and Leigh scoring on the turn when unmarked.

The scorer then bullied Baker to cause problems in the box but another appeal for an Exiles handball was waved away by Mr Drysale.

It should have been 3-1 after 55 minutes after shambolic defending by County with Jameson clearing straight to Leigh. He rolled the ball across to Nolan and he blazed high and wide from inside the box.

County were all over the place at the back and Stanley got their third in the 67th minute, a goal that was similar to their first.

Jameson and Baker failed to deal with a long ball and Matt Lowe got onto it before a ball was swung in from the right by Nolan.

Bright was exposed at the far post and Shaun Whalley put the ball across for Pritchard to prod in.

County failed to seriously stress Stanley in a bid to make a game of it and Coughlan made a pair of changes to chase it for the last eight minutes by bringing on Jephcott and teenage midfielder Jac Norris for a home debut.

A Will Evans cross had Jephcott eyeing a first Exiles goal with four minutes to go but a defender got a toe on it and the night was summed up by it deflecting into the hands of ‘keeper Radek Vitek.

County thought they had a lifeline in added time but Jephcott’s strike was chalked off for Zanzala being deemed to be offside close to Vitek.

Sadly, there was still time for Lewis to be shown a red card that will further stretch County for the final three games of the campaign.

Roll on the summer.

County: Maxted, Bright, Baker, Jameson, Lewis, Bennett (captain, Jephcott 82), Morris, Charsley (Norris 82), Bondswell (Evans 45), Palmer-Houlden, Bogle (Zanzala HT).

Substitutes: Townsend, Sanca, Norris, Rai, Jephcott.

Yellow: Bondswell.

Red: Lewis.

Goals: Morris.

Accrington scorers: Henderson, Leigh.

Referee: Darren Drysdale.

Attendance: 3,201 (72 Accrington).