City picked up a good point on the road at Newport County, extending their unbeaten run to five games and also made it three consecutive clean sheets after an intriguing game in South Wales. The Imps had the best chances of the game but will be happy with a good point ahead of Christmas.
The Imps made one change from the team which defeated Accrington Stanley last weekend, Nathan Arnold came back into the starting eleven with Cameron Stewart missing out.
City made early inroads in what was a competitive opening ten minutes, both sides thundering into challenges with Alex Woodyard for The Imps and The Exiles skipper, Joss Labadie, going into a 50/50 on half way getting the supporters off their seats. But it was to be the visitors who hit the first real shot with any intent, Matt Rhead collecting a low cross from Neal Eardley, taking a touch and spinning to fire just wide of target.
County had their first sniff of goal as a neat touch and turn from Frank Nouble, before a cross to Shawn McCoulsky hit a low effort that flashed just wide of Josh Vickers’ right hand post, the home side were gaining some momentum but City stood resolute. Chances were at a premium as the majority of the play was in midfield save for the occasional foray into either penalty area, Nouble scuffed a low shot wide of goal following a corner which Vickers had covered.
Scot Bennett headed an inswinging corner well wide of goal for County, following that header the Imps won a free kick right on the edge of the area after a quick break. Sam Habergham lined up the set piece and hit a low curling effort round the wall, Joe Day had to dive low to his right and just grasped possession with Rhead looking to pounce on any mistake by the ‘keeper in what was the first shot on target of the game.
Harry Anderson sidefooted an effort over the top as City pressed for the opener, before The Exiles charged forward and McCoulsky saw an effort expertly deflected off target by Sean Raggett, just before the break Nathan Arnold had the chance of the half from a City point of view. Eardley picked up possession just inside The Imps’ half, he looked up and curled a wonderful ball cross field pass to the onrushing Arnold, he took a touch looked up and hit a low effort which Day did well to block with his legs.
Half Time
Newport County 0 The Imps 0
City pressed quickly at the start of the second half, Anderson was denied at the last by a good tackle from Ben White as The Imps pressed higher and higher up the field. Luke Waterfall almost put City in front as Day saved the City captain’s header down to his left. With just seven minutes of the second half gone, the hosts were reduced to ten men as Mark O’Brien brought down Green out on the left flank and he was shown a red card.
The atmosphere was white hot with the County supporters urging their side forward despite the numerical disadvantage; City weathered what seemed like a temporary storm from the home side for a good ten minutes or so. Waterfall forced Day into another save when he met an Eardley centre, although in truth it didn’t have the requisite power to really trouble the ‘keeper.
County forced Vickers into action, albeit it was a watching brief in the end with Matty Dolan firing a free kick from 25 yards just over the top of the bar, the Imps’ ‘keeper stretching a right arm to ensure the ball wasn’t to creep in just under the frame of the goal.
Both sets of supporters were in fine voice, urging their charges forward as the game went into stoppage time, Waterfall denied by Day as the defender headed at goal. City were in possession for much of the final throes of the game with County attacking only on the break. Anderson created a heading opportunity for Green who beat Mickey Demetriou to the ball and he headed on target as The Imps piled on the pressure, but unfortunately the visitors couldn't make the final chance count.
Full Time
Newport County 0 The Imps 0
Newport County
1 Joe DAY
2 David PIPE
3 Dan BUTLER
4 Joss LABADIE
6 Ben WHITE
8 Matty DOLAN
10 Frank NOUBLE
12 Ben TOZER
15 Shawn McCOULSKY
25 Mark O ‘BRIEN
28 Mickey DEMETRIOU
Substitutes
30 James BITTNER
7 Robbie WILLMOTT
9 Padraig AMOND
11 Lamar REYNOLDS
17 Scot BENNETT (8’ for Tozer)
20 Tom OWEN-EVANS
24 Momodou TOURAY
Booked: Labadie 39’
Red Card: O Brien 52’
The Imps
21 Josh VICKERS
3 Sam HABERGHAM
5 Luke WATERFALL
9 Matt RHEAD
10 Matt GREEN
16 Michael BOSTWICK
23 Neal EARDLEY
25 Sean RAGGETT
26 Harry ANDERSON
28 Nathan ARNOLD
32 Alex WOODYARD
Substitutes
1 Paul FARMAN
2 Sean LONG
4 Elliott WHITEHOUSE
7 Josh GINNELLY
8 Ollie PALMER (69’ for Rhead)
11 Billy KNOTT (75’ for Arnold)
15 Rob DICKIE
Bookings: Raggett 43’ Rhead 66’ Bostwick 73’ Waterfall 79’
Referee: Brett Huxtable
Assistants: Justin Amey & Simon Knapp
Attendance : 3,514 (483 Imps Supporters)
