Report by Mark Vickery at Spytty Park

Newport County 4 (Foley 25, McAllister 55, Jarvis 76, Rodgers 88)

Braintree Town 3 (Wright 10, Yiadom 68, Davis 86)

Attendance: 1,234

County have the final say

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

Progress in the Cup this year is important, conditions look difficult today so important we adapt to them  

CONDITIONS

Intermittent spells of rain, mild and keen wind, pitch looked glossy but in good condition.      

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Persistence paid off despite some defensive lapses

TURNING POINT

None

THE MATCH

County were forced into a couple of change with captain Gary Warren suffering from a tight hamstring, Ismail Yakubi returned to the side after his loan spell with Cambridge United had expired. David Pipe was also struggling with an ankle injury and replaced by Tom Miller. The match was played in difficult conditions from the offset with rain increasing and Braintree had the wind advantage in the first half. County were first to threaten on 3 minutes though when a long throw by Miller on the right flank was misjudged by the keeper McDonald who came for a ball he was never going to claim and the loose ball was hooked clear inside the six yard box by Stevens. Foley was invited to shoot in a crowded box but leant back to scoop the shot over from 12 yards. Braintree scored with their first real threat on 10 minutes when a quick release by County keeper Potter was miskicked into the path of Marks. He played a good ball quickly to the left side for Reason and although Rodgers appeared to hold up play well, he cut back a good cross to flat foot the County defence and ex-County striker Ben Wright calmly slotted into the left corner. The wind continued to cause problems defending crosses and throws and there was calamity again in the Braintree area on 16 minutes when the keeper could not hold a cross by Foley and the loose ball sat up for Miller who failed to get his head over the shot blasting over from 10 yards under pressure from Paine. County continued to play with drive and confidence with some neat exchanges and a sweeping move on 22 minutes down the right side saw Foley prominent in providing an inviting cross into the box which Miller anticipated beautifully with a late run into the box and his looping header from 14 yards crashed against the bar with the keeper beaten. County finally got their reward on 25 minutes from a patient move involving several players to by-pass the static Braintree defence and Miller played a low ball into the area for McAllister to caress the ball cleverly into the path of Foley. He adjusted superbly to turn Paine and place a low shot into the right corner from 8 yards beyond the grasp of the keeper.  Braintree continued to look mobile coming forward but were happy to absorb play and slow the game down as much as possible. Braintree were keen to use Wright on the left channel to release pressure and the County defence marshalled him well forcing him to play with back to goal to squash the threat. Braintree had a decent outlet on the right channel with Yiadom busy in his approach and an eye for cross and County were forced to defend a couple of decent crosses in tandem with right back Peters. County close to a second on 33 minutes when they pressed play well in midfield and Docherty broke down the middle to exploit space. He was invited to shoot from the edge of the area but set up Miller on the right side who stung the hands of the keeper who claimed the ball at the second attempt. Foley was again influence carrying the ball from deep on 37 minutes with a rasping effort from 25 yards which the keeper spilled but nobody could steal the rebound. County had a couple of decent chances as half time approached through McAllister. On 42 minutes, a good direct clearance by Hatswell, was chased down well and McAllister held off a challenge by Stevens before unleashing a firm volley from the left side of the area which the keeper punched away. There was a better chance for McAllister in injury time again down the left side and this time he penetrated further inside the area and his low shot from 12 yards at an acute fizzed just past the right post

County started to the second half positively and tested the keeper McDonald again on 48 minutes with an opportunist effort from McAllister from 25 yards which the keeper held this time. County were awarded a couple of early corners and there was uncertainty in the Braintree box on 52 minutes when Knights swung in a good cross which flashed deep and the ball ping ponged around before Braintree keeper kicked the ball clear with a panicky clearance.  County made a positive change soon after with Jarvis replacing Miller with Jarvis making the three up front. County took a deserved lead on 55 minutes when they exploited space on the left side with a quick move from deep and Foley delivered a superb cross into the area which McAllister headed in at the back post after a well timed run. County were purring after the goal as they attacked Braintree down both channels with vigour and full back Rodgers came into the game with some forceful runs from deep. County were desperately unlucky not to get the important two goal cushion on 58 minutes when Rodgers was key providing a great cross from the right side of the area after a strong run and Foley met the ball with a good header from 8 yards which the keeper did well to turn around the right post. Braintree responded briefly with a swift counter on 62 minutes involving Wright who set up an opportunist effort for Braintree captain Davis to shoot from 25 yards which flashed just past the right post. County created the best move of the game on 65 minutes with Rose anchoring play well on the left side of the area and he set up Jarvis with a clever low threaded pass before finding Foley who had a clear run but his shot from 10 yards was parried wide by the keeper. County were punished on 68 minutes after they weakly conceded a corner on the Braintree right. Wright delivered a good cross from the corner not for first time and the ball appeared to deceived County keeper Potter allowing Yiadom to head home unchallenged inside the six yard box. Braintree were galvanised for the goal and for a time they sensed it could be their day working hard to force County into some dead ends. Marks was then booked for Braintree on 72 minutes for going in late on Hughes in a sliding challenge. County were denied again on 74 minutes when Knights penetrated down the left side with a strong run and he chipped the keeper from the edge of the area only for the bar to come to the rescue again for Braintree. County took the lead again on 76 minutes with Rodgers influential down the right channel and his deep cross was superbly controlled by McAllister who played a good quick ball into the six yard area for Jarvis to blast home into the roof of the net. County then made another change with Scott Rogers replacing Tommy Docherty in midfield as they strove to close out the game. Braintree made a double substitution soon after to pep up their approach with Quinton and Reason being replaced by Chilaka and Symons. Braintree refused to lie down with some determined runs from deep to get men inside the area and it paid off on 86 minutes when County were forced deep and Davis stole into the area to receive a pass from Marks. He showed good vision to curl and inch perfect shot into the top right corner from 14 yards giving Potter no chance. County made a frantic effort to win the game pushing men forward and there was a remarkable end to the match when Rodgers bombed forward down the right flank and lofted a cross come shot from near the touchline which appeared to catch on the wind and go into the top left corner beyond the reach of the keeper. County looked capable of adding a fifth in injury with Braintree committed forward a direct ball forward by County set Knights free after a neat exchange just inside the County half and despite Jarvis incorrectly being given offside, the referee bizarrely took play back and booked Paine for a late foul on Knights. County held on well in the five minutes of injury time to book their place in the first round proper.       

Potter (4) – kicked well in general, took a few needless risks with his distribution today, switched on crosses a couple of times and got punished   

Rodgers (8) – athletic performance, covered danger well throughout and really contributed going forward setting up a couple of goals and the important winner

Yakubi (7) – dominated in the air, tackled well, marked tightly when necessary and distribution was assured 

Hatswell (6) – positional play was solid but got caught out a couple of times in the air and looked somewhat nervy with his clearances        

Hughes (7) – made some strong headers and made himself difficult to beat restricting crosses well. passed ball well from deep.

Docherty (7) – moved ball around efficiently most of the time but let himself down with some short passes. competed tenaciously winning some good tackles    

Rose (7) – marked tightly and influence was somewhat squashed today but still played a key hand in a couple of the goals

Miller (7) – worked well box to box breaking up play well and showed an eye for a decent cross. very unlucky not to score today with some well timed runs

Foley (8) – at the heart of the best moves, made himself difficult to pick up offering plenty of energy on the ball and went close several times        

Knights (7) – worked hard to get into the game but forced to play on the break a lot in providing some decent crosses that were begging to be turned in.   

McAllister (8) – strong presence in the air and read the ball forward quickly. Controlled ball well under pressure and got a deserved goal today after being denied several times

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS

Strengths – offered plenty of pace, they attacked efficiently especially from deep, providing some decent crosses especially from corners.

Weaknesses – defended switched off several times wanting too much time on the ball and always looked vulnerable dealing with crosses         

Opportunities – full backs were contributively involved in the game, they pushed players forward from deep late in the game often untracked     

Threats – Wright did well when got facing forward, delivering some good set pieces, Yiadom was lively and difficult to read and Davis and eye for goal from distance

OFFICIALS

P Bankes (7) -sometimes punished the side wanting to get on with the game and brought back play strangely a few times but kept bookings to a minimum and let game flow  

MAN OF THE MATCH

Paul Rodgers – played a key hand in a couple of goals and got the vital winner with a bold cross

IF YOU WERE JUSTIN EDINBURGH WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County played some fluent football again in the final third and despite the setback of going behind early, it was important in the way they approached the game after this keeping their patience and determination on and off the ball. Despite being pegged back twice they remained positive and deserved their reward it the end for sheer persistence and being bolder than their opponents who only wanted slow play down and look for holes on the break. County still need improve their concentration in defending and ability to defend when they are most vulnerable having being caught out on the break a few times. County should really have killed the game off today either side of half time but were never able to relax but it was their physical and mental strength that got them the result.