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| NEWPORT’S CUP SMASH AND GRAB HORSHAM 1, NEWPORT 2 TWO LATE goals and the fitness gained during the pre-season,kept Newport's FA Cup Cardiff dreams alive at Horsham on Saturday. Horsham FC play in the Rymans division 1 south and are a team still searching for their first victory of the season. Both teams started cautiously but after 17 minutes Horsham kicking up the slope, took the lead with their first real attempt on target. A corner from Carney was headed into the top corner of the net by CHARMAN. Newport had a chance to equalise two minutes later but Jamie O'Rourke headed wide. The Islanders were at their best when the ball was played along the right wing but the crosses seemed to find only the Horsham defenders. One break did see Newport get a sniff at goal, when O’Rourke elected to duck into heading the ball, when kicking seemed the better option. The lack of clear-cut chances meant that a substitution after only 32 minutes was required, defender Jon Holmes was replaced by striker Liam Gearing in an attempt to find an equaliser. Despite the change, Horsham continued to create the best chances and keeper Joe McCormack made an excellent fingertip save to deny Castrechino. Newport's best chance in the first half was shortly before half time when Gareth Keeping flicked a Danny Hatcher corner goalwards only to see a defender clear off the line. In the second half Horsham dominated, winning any ball in the air and had three good chances to increase their lead within the first ten minutes.However, both Ball and Ullathorne shot wide and a third effort from the left angle of the penalty area was tipped over by Joe MacCormack. A double substitution by the port was made and they were to reward the travelling faithful by turning the match on its head. Passes were finding people and the simple ball opened up play, simply, the Newport side that did so well against Dartford was firing on all cylinders once again.The St George's Park side's first chance of the 2nd half, came just after this and on 76 minutes when Alex Perry headed a Gearing cross against the post and the ball found comfort in the arms of the relieved Horsham Glovesman. The equaliser arrived in the 82nd minute when the Horsham defence failed to clear a Hatcher cross and the ball broke to GEARING, who blasted it into the net. This prompted a rampent Newport to push hard for a winner. Horsham who’s adrenaline just disappeared along with their legs, were battered onto their back foot in true “Rocky” style and were to pay the price of missing their earlier chances. Hatcher broke down the right after some great but simple play from Perry and his cross found Chris BRIDGES unmarked at the far post to head Newport into the lead and earn them an away tie at Fareham. Afterwards Tatey said "He (Alex Perry) changed the game, he just wanted the ball and passed it well, he didn't do anything more than that.” he continued,"But it lifted our team, and our more experienced players suddenly came to life.” adding, "I've lost count of the games I've been involved in and have dominated the match only to lose.This time we stole the win. We were 1-0 down and we should have been 8-0 down. We were totally outplayed, but that's football." Steve Tate reflected on his side's 2-1 victory at Horsham and insisted: "We should have got stuffed!" Newport: McCormack, Buckman, Lang, Tagg, Holmes, Pilcher, Keeping, Hatcher, O'Rourke, Wright, Chudy. Subs: Gearing. Perry, Bridges, O'Connor, Isaacson. Next in the cup Wessex Leaguers Fareham Town are next on Newport's cup agenda after Jon Gittens' side won 2-1 at Hellenic League outfit Carterton Town. Paul Morby netted his first goal for the club to give Fareham a second minute lead before the Oxfordshire side equalised through Threlfall after 34 minutes. With the tie seemingly heading towards a replay, former Hamble forward Jamie Musselwhite struck five minutes from time when he held off two defenders to find the back of the net. BANK HOLIDAY BLUES AS NEWPORT LOSE EASTLEIGH 2, NEWPORT 1 NEWPORT faltered and tasted defeat for the first time this season in a controversial match on Bank Holiday Monday. Having being under the cosh for most of opening 45 minutes, Newport hit back and were desperately unlucky not to of kept their unbeaten run intact. Nicky Banger the former Southampton player, caused Newport all sorts of problems in the first half, but for two fine saves from keeper Joe McCormack, he could have put the home side comfortly in front.It was 27 minutes before Newport had a shot on target, Jamie O'Rourke hit an effort tamely at former Newport keeper Colin Matthews. There was another scare for our hosts minutes later, a free kick from Lee Chudy found Danny Hatcher but his header went wide. Newport were to go behind in the 54th minute, McCormack punched clear a corner and the ball fell kindly to Ryan Ashford, who shot home through a crowded penalty area. It was a goal that spurned the ‘port on and 8 minutes later, the Port were level. Danny Rofe the former ‘port favourite who had previously had been booked, blatantly pulled back O'Rourke and the referee pointed to the spot straight away, Rofey stayed on. Gareth KEEPING cooly sent Matthews the wrong way from the resulting penalty. Newport should have taken the lead moments later but Ashley Wright headed wide. Lee Bright the Eastleigh defender, was then dismissed for a lunging foul, in what was to appear a near identical foul on Danny Hatcher, to one moments before hand from Danny Rofe, again on Hatcher.From the resulting free kick, Chudy crossed to Wright who headed just past the post. Newport were down to ten men when Simon Pilcher went for his second booking for an innocuous looking tackle, for his first sending off in his career. Eastleigh grabbed the points four minutes from time. David HUGHES, who had come on as a substitute, received the ball from a very quickly taken free-kick and as the Newport defence ambled into position, the Eastleigh player picked his spot and gave McCormack no chance. Newport who had fought hard throughout the second half almost levelled, Danny Hatchers header for Port went just over. Newport: McCormack, Buckman, Lang, Tagg, Holmes, Pilcher, Keeping, Howes, O'Rourke, Hatcher, Chudy. Subs: Wright, Gearing, Bridges, O'Connor, Perry. NO POINTS FOR DARTS AS NEWPORT HIT THREE NEWPORT 3, DARTFORD 0 Newport continued their great run and produced a superb display to make it three wins from three games. Newport were once again thoroughly deserved their victory as they totally played Dartford off the pitch. The very impressive and hard working Jamie O'Rourke,pulled the darts defence all over the place, his cross from the left found Gareth KEEPING, who hit the ball past Dartford keeper. Newport almosted had doubled their advantage but O'Rourke's shot beat the keeper but hit the inside of the post, bounched out and cleared. About 10 minutes later a corner from Danny Hatcher was pinging around Dartford penalty area, the ball eventually fell to defender Jon HOLMES, who flicked the ball up before he smashed it into the roof of the net. A Lee Chudy corner shortly after fell to Holmes once more but his header bounced just over the bar. Dartford's Tommy Martin went close just before the interval and substitute Jordan Assender almost pulled one back for the visitors but Newport skipper and keeper Joe McCormack was equal to the shot. Joe McCormack again had to be at his best when Dave Hassett was put through but the Newport glovesman pulled off a good save. Newport made sure of victory in the 76th minute, when a superb cross by Ian Buckman, following some great play was met by a composed substitute Ashley WRIGHT to score his third goal in two games. Newport: McCormack, Buckman, Lang, Tagg, Holmes, Richardson, Keeping, Pilcher, O'Rourke, Hatcher, Chudy. Subs: Perry, Gearing, Wright, O'Connor, Bridges. PORT SNATCH BACK VICTORY NEWPORT 2, FLEET TOWN 1 By John Hamon from the IW County Press A SUPERB comeback with two goals in two minutes from substitute Ashley Wright made it six out of six points for Newport on Tuesday evening. The side played some great football and had they taken their chances, would have won in a canter. Jamie O'Rourke went close in the early stages but his left-footed shot was well saved by Fleet keeper Steve May. Then a Lee Chudy corner found Pete Tagg but the central defender headed wide from close range. Another Chudy corner caused mayhem in the Fleet defence and the ball eventually fell to Simon Pilcher but he shot wide. The Newport winger was proving a handful for the visitors and in the 25th minute provided a telling cross that O'Rourke headed over. Fleet's first chance came in the 27th minute when a Ben Buckland centre was headed inches wide by Shaun Hale. However, after Danny Hatcher went close for Port, the home side and the majority of the 283 crowd was stunned when Fleet took the lead against the run of play in the 33rd minute. From a free-kick 20 yards from goal, Craig Anstey's hard drive took a wicked deflection off Jon HOLMES and wrong-footed his own keeper. This knocked the stuffing out of Newport for a while and Fleet enjoyed a lot of possession for the only time in the game. Lee Blakely went close with a 20-yard free-kick and just after the break Ed Hare's effort went inches past a post. This time last year, Newport could well have conceded the match but manager Steve Tate has a very hard-working squad and they refused to give in. Gareth Keeping headed over from an Adam Lang free kick and Taffy Richardson was desperately unlucky when his shot from 20 yards rattled the Fleet crossbar. Then came the dramatic fight back. In the 77th minute a long clearance from keeper Joe McCormack was flicked on by substitute Liam Gearing and WRIGHT scored a deserved equaliser. Two minutes later, the Island side went ahead when a great cross from Chudy eventually fell to WRIGHT, who scored from close range. The striker could well have had a hat-trick but shot weakly at May. "We showed a lot of character in coming back the way we did," said a delighted Tate after the game. "The lads thoroughly deserved the victory and I am proud of them all. "Now we must keep it going and it is not going to be easy against Dartford at St George's Park on Saturday but if we show the same character, then I am sure we can keep the run going." Newport: McCormack, Buckman, Lang, Tagg, Pilcher, Richardson, Keeping, Holmes, O'Rourke, Hatcher, Chudy. Subs: Wright, Gearing, O'Connor, Tate, Perry. PORT OPEN WITH A FLOURISH FISHER ATHLETIC 0, NEWPORT 3 NEWPORT made a successful start to their Eastern Division season with a 3-0 victory at Fisher on Saturday. They took the lead after only ten minutes when KHAN, under pressure from Gareth Keeping, slotted the ball past his own keeper. KEEPING increased the lead five minutes before the interval when a pull back from the bye line by the impressive Jamie O'Rourke found him unmarked in the penalty area and he placed the ball to the right of the stranded keeper. In the second half the Newport defence thwarted every Fisher attack and O'ROURKE completed the scoring in the 73rd minute when he powered through the defence to give himself an easy tap in. Unfortunately Adam Lang received a booking ten minutes from the end for a skirmish that saw Fisher's Fletcher receive a second yellow card and with the last kick of the match, another Fisher player, Rouse, was shown a red card for a foul on Glen Howes. Newport: McCormack, Buckman, Lang, Tagg, Pilcher, Richardson, Keeping, Howes, O'Rourke, Hatcher, Chuddy. Subs: Perry, Holmes, Gearing, O'Connor, Tate. |
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| Keepo runs up and hits the ball |
| sending Matthews the wrong way |
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| Keeping fires the 'port ahead after good work from O'Rourke |
| Holmes (left) waits to pounce for his goal |
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| O'Rourke heads wide |
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| Gearing No.12 ( in the blue) is set to level the score |
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| Done it!!, Chris Bridges scores the winner and runs to the corner flag to celebrate |