by Jack Cook
EFL League Two: Newport County v Exeter City
Date: Saturday February 16, 2021
Kick Off: 19:00
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
NEWPORT shared the spoils against nine men Exeter as a late goal from Dom Telford cancelled out Ryan Bowman’s earlier effort.
It was a hard fought point for Mike Flynn’s men who found it hard to break down nine men Exeter with no real end product other than the bullet header from Telford.
Exeter made a bright start to the game putting the Newport defence under some real pressure, but that changed quickly as a simple over the top ball troubled the Exeter defence. Which meant that Newport forward Nicky Maynard was seemingly one on one with the keeper but was taken out by Alex Hartridge and was sent off by referee Tom Nield as he was the last man. Exeter had to play the remaining 80 minutes with 10 men.
Despite being a man down Exeter took the lead through Ryan Bowman as the forward was free in space on the edge of the box and struck the ball nicely past Newport keeper Nick Townsend who had a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out of the net.
Newport had a great chance later in the half as Nicky Maynard found himself in front of goal as the cross found him free in the six yard box, but Exeter keeper Jokull Andresson did well to keep the ball out.
Exeter saw themselves go down to nine men after an unneeded challenge from goal scorer Ryan Bowman as he elbowed Mickey Demetriou as the defender went up for the header. Tom Nield had no choice but go to his back pocket again and send off Bowman.
It was all Newport in the second half as they tried to break down a nine men Exeter, but Newport failed to create many chances in the opening 25 minutes of the second half.
Newport pushed on in the second half with Gambin creating the best chance for Newport which troubled the keeper and also the follow-up from the substitute Jake Scrimshaw, but the ball was kept out.
Newport finally got the goal they deserved late in the second half as the ball was put into the box and Dom Telford headed the ball passed Jokull Andresson.
At the end Newport scrambled for a winner but failed to create an end product and this was the story of the game.
Star player:
Archie Collins (Exeter)
Key incidents:
8’ Red card for Alex Hartridge (Exeter)
21’ Goal for Ryan Bowman (Exeter)
44’ Red card for Ryan Bowman (Exeter)
88’ Goal for Dom Telford (Exeter)
Newport – Nick Townsend, Ryan Haynes, Joss Labadie (c) Priestley Farquharson (Jake Scrimshaw,81) Matty Dolan (Dom Telford,34), Josh Sheehan, David Longe-King (Aaron Lewis,34), Luke Gambin (Lewis Collins,60) Nicky Maynard, Mickey Demetriou, Ryan Taylor (Padraig Amond,60)
Substitutes – Tom King, Padraig Amond, Aaron Lewis, Dom Telford, Anthony Hartigan, Lewis Collins, Jake Scrimshaw
Exeter – Jokull Andresson Jake Caprice (Harry Kite,84) Jack Sparkes, Jake Taylor (c) (Nigel Atangana,84) Ben Seymour (Josh Key,41), Archie Collins, Ryan Bowman, Tom Parkes, Matt Jay (Joel Randall,69), Pierce Sweeney, Alex Hartridge
Substitutes – Harry Lee, Nigel Atangana, Joel Randall, Alex Fisher, Harry Kite, Josh Key, Will Dean