Report by Mark Vickery at Priory Lane

AFC Telford United 2 (Davies 17, Newton 57 pen)

Newport County 1 (Rose 41)

Attendance: 2,147

Poor application and discipline lets County down

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

We are boosted by the return of Gary Warren but with Telford desperate for a home win we need to be a compact unit

CONDITIONS

Showery, blustery and cool - pitch looked decent enough but players seem to be slipping a lot throughout the game     

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Lacking confidence and inspiration with moments of madness

TURNING POINT

The penalty gave them the impetus

THE MATCH

County were forced into a couple of changes with Ryan Gilligan and Lee Baker injured allowing Felino Jardim to return from the bench and captain Gary Warren after his stint away in the GB Student World Cup. Telford were the busier side in the early stages with their front men working hard to close down the County back four at every opportunity and Samuels worked well in tandem with Brown up front. County snapped out of their shell with a glimmer of a chance on 8 minutes when Rose came in from the left channel to pinpoint Buchanan well inside the Telford area and his shot on the turn flashed wide of the left post. Telford continued to work hard off the ball with County reliant on some hopeful punts forward but they did win a couple of corners from some of their disjointed approach play. On 12 minutes, a Jardim corner from right flank was well anticipated by McAllister at the front post but his glancing header went wide of the left post.  County were slow to close down play on times especially on their right flank with Rodgers and Jardim not on the same wavelength. On 14 minutes, County were given a warning when Jardim was brushed aside with ease and Trainer released a quick through ball for Samuels who had the pace to get ahead of Hughes and into the area but Potter did well to deny with his legs. Jardim swapped to the left channel soon after in what looked like a tactical change but County were soon a goal down on 17 minutes when Samuels was invited to attack down the right side and ghosted past Hughes and although his cross was deflected away, Davies had the appetite to win the ball and blasted a volley into the right corner from 14 yards. County responded with playing at better tempo with some neat exchanges and went close on 25 minutes when a Miller through on the left channel was glanced on by Yakubi to the back post and a stretching header by Rose went over the bar. Samuels continued to cause problems for County with his movement and Telford were close again on 32 minutes when County were again found wanting in midfield and indecision saw Docherty disposed and a neat ball down the middle by Trainer played in Samuels but he dragged his effort wide of the right post. County became anxious for a time and indecision near the edge of the area saw Potter handle the ball outside the area on 35 minutes and he was booked. Newton whipped in a dangerous low effort from the direct free kick but Potter did well to save low down. Telford continued to make positive runs and Mills was booked for a diving offence moments later which was a let off for County. There was a double substitution on 40 minutes with Jardim being replaced by Sam Foley in what looked to be a tactical decision and County keeper Potter pulling up with an injury and he was replaced by Glyn Thompson. County were sparked into action and equalised with a fantastic goal on 41 minutes when Rose blasted a great free kick into the top left corner from 30 yards giving the keeper little chance.

Telford made a  change at the break with Whitehead replacing Killock. County were looking for a better response in the second half but were soon on the backfoot with Tom Miller late in a challenge when County wasted a good opportunity of a break down the right side. The blustery conditions had made it difficult for defenders throughout the game and Hughes did little to change that opinion on 53 minutes with an air kick allowing Samuels a free run down the right flank and his cross was headed just past the right post by Brown from 10 yards. Telford continued to pull the strings with County backing off play far too much and they worked the ball around well testing County down the flanks. On 57 minutes, poor defensive play further up the pitch by County on their right flank invited Telford to dink a measured pass forward down the right side of the area and Brown got goalside of Warren only for the pair to tangle and the referee awarded a penalty before booking Warren. Newton stepped a blasted a low penalty down the middle into the net. County made efforts to step up their game and manufactured a glimmer of a chance from direct play when McAllister shielded a good pass to set up Rodgers on the edge of the area but he blasted a difficult half volley over the bar. County continued to play a largely direct predictable game with McAllister being asked to provide much of the link play and Telford were quick to stifle this with the midfield quick to support the centre halves. Telford responded with Farrell replacing Brown and County replaced right back Rodgers for Scott Rogers who went into central midfield with Tom Miller dropping back into defence. County had created little from open play and looked most threatening from set pieces. On 78 minutes, they were close again from a long throw by Miller on the right flank which Yakubi won with a header at the front and in the scramble inside the area, Foley saw his effort cleared off the line.  County stepped up their efforts in the final ten minutes with Warren going up front to support McAllister as County persisted with their direct approach. County threw several decent balls into the penalty area with Warren doing well in the air but County just couldn’t get on the end of the ball allowing Telford to clear. Telford were content to slow the game down for much of the second half and some leniency by the officials allowed them to prevent County releasing the ball and Docherty was booked for a late challenge. On 88 minutes, frustration boiled over for County when Samuels stood over the ball as County tried to quickly restart play and Rogers pushed the player to the floor earning himself a straight red card. County launched several direct ball into the area in the five minutes of injury times with Telford making several hurried clearances and the misery was compounded for County when Docherty received a second yellow card for dissent. County walked off the pitch a downhearted side and mixed response from their large following    

Potter (5) – stood up to make a couple decent early saves before injury and was replaced by:

Thompson (6) – did alright, showed save hands but forced into a couple of clearances which were none too convincing   

Rodgers (6) – seemed to want to much time on the ball, made some strong runs forward in effort to contribute but quality lacking with crosses

Warren (7) – dominated in the air and aside from the penalty decision had good game seeing ball early and did well when he went up front

Yakubi (6) – unsettled by some of the movement in the final third and didn’t have his way in every challenge. Offered plenty of influence on set pieces going close a couple of times        

Hughes (5) – failed to get tight on times preventing crosses, reluctant to overlap and nervous throughout with his clearances failing to keep ball in play 

Docherty (5) – expected more influence from him in truth, game bypassed him and lost discipline late in the game which killed any chance of an equaliser

Millar (6) – made some good challenges but was sometimes slow to read play and see the danger. Did well with long throws  

Jardim (4) – offering very little on the ball and liability off it – not physical or mentally strong enough for this level and was replaced by:

Foley (6) – had some bright moments when he got facing forward and was prepared to carry ball but faded late on.      

Rose (7) – denied space to operate but still managed to play several clever passes into the area which deserved better. Scored an excellent goal today         

Buchanan (5) – did alright when he kept things simple but overcomplicated things far too often today losing possession in key areas.

McAllister (6) – was overused by team in predictable direct approach, went close with some headers in the first half but restricted on chances               

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS

Strengths – young side that were prepared to put in an honest shift, had a good shape about and front pair were lively throughout

Weaknesses – thought they looked a tired outfit later in the game slowing game down and had a reliance on direct play       

Opportunities – exploited the County with some good raid down the right channel and put some measured crosses into the box

Threats – Newton provided several good crosses from the flank and set pieces, Samuels timed his runs well beating offside and Trainer had an eye for a killer pass.      

OFFICIALS

P Banks (6) – got the key decisions right but some of the yellow card were no more than collisions and failed to monitor a lot of cynical play to slow the game down  

MAN OF THE MATCH

Newton – play some excellent passes and was well positioned to deal with threat and distribute effectively

IF YOU WERE ANTHONY HUDSON WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

He could probably apologise for the performance of some of our players today which have shown that they either haven’t the stomach for this level or the ability to influence games. Telford are by no means a strong physical outfit but on times today they made County look weak and passive and it was only their work ethic that gave them the edge. County looked like a disjointed team of individuals today not full time players. For much of the game we showed little nerve or patience to keep the ball across the midfield and took the easy option every time in pinging the ball towards McAllister. Telford dealt with this effectively by dropped a midfield player in front of the defender and it was only when Warren went up front that we managed to unsettle them. In the end indiscipline got the better of County and many of those who made the effort to travel today probably feel they will be owed a big performance Monday.