Poor Leadership and Organisation costs County

Newport County (Rose 6 - Harris 37 - Easter 85 - Hughes 90)

Dorchester Town (Hill 18, 90 – Moss 58, Osei 82)

Attendance: 852

 

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

County are likely to start with the same starting team with the exception of Nathan Davies who is still not fully recovered from a head injury. We need to be a bit more brave getting forward but if we can defend as well as we did at Chelmsford, we have every chance of getting something today.

 

CONDITIONS

Dry and warm although the wind increased during the match and the cloud cover.

 

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

As good as we looked going forward especially in the first half we were just as bad defending and some of the marking was very poor.  

 

TURNING POINT

After Church went off we became increasingly ragged and unable to hold possession and the ball kept coming back too much

 

THE MATCH

County one change with Nathan Davies nursing a head injury, Anthony Church made his first full appearance. County had the benefit of a keen breeze in the opening period and made their intentions clear with some purposeful early moves going forward. On 4 minutes, Stephens did well to support Hall on the right channel and he swept over a useful looking cross which Rose met with a well timed run but his header from 10 yards went just over the bar. County took the lead on 6 minutes after some good approach play again from the right channel with Hall the architect. His quick feet saw him reach the byline before chipping a good cross which caused problems for keeper Stewart who could only parry the ball in the path of Rose who smashed the ball home confidently from 6 yards. Dorchester came out of their shell with some probing moves down the right channel involving the influential Crittenden. County were given a warning on 12 minutes when Crittenden won a corner on the right channel and he took it quickly lofting the ball deep to Hill but his header from 12 yards was cleared inside the six yard area. County continued to look useful coming forward with Walsh and Hughes winning the chase down for the loose ball. On 14 minutes, County had a decent looking chance when Harris elected to change tact with a good direct ball down the middle. Hughes eased past the labouring Browne and with a first time shot he elected to beat another man but his shot from the edge of the area was smothered by the defender Liburd. Giles then received attention for a head injury before Dorchester equalised on 18 minutes. County failed to address the earlier problem with marking on a corner and when Crittenden supplied the ball from right channel the unmarked Hill placed a firm downward header past Thompson from 10 yards. County settled themselves down again with some good approach play down the flanks with both Rose and Hughes reaching the byline through some good trickery but the final ball into the six yard box was hooked clear from the Dorchester defence. County went close on 25 minutes when Harris delivered a good corner from the left channel and Giles brushed off a challenge to head just past the left post from 10 yards with the keeper stranded. On the half hour, County had a penalty appeal turned down when a Harris snapshot inside the box appeared to be handled. Then, on 32 minutes, Hall was again pivotal in a pretty move down the right flank linking well with Church and his cross was lofted deep towards Walsh but his header from 12 yards went wide of the right post. County forced Dorchester into conceding several free kicks and punished them severely on 38 minutes when Harris executed a kick superbly from 20 yards with the keeper grasping thin air. Crittenden continued to cause problems on the right channel offering a good outlet but for a time County became more tight and compact denying Dorchester space.

Dorchester made a coupler of changes at half replacing both the right back Pepra-Anan and central defender Browne who had looked uncertain in the first half. County were patient in their approach after half time winning a couple of corners. Dorchester continued to look uncertain defending and although the delivery from crosses was inconsistent, County went close to extending their lead. County made a surprise early substitution with Walsh being replaced by Robert Duffy. Dorchester became increasingly direct in their approach play with County setting their stall out to defend the channels better. Their tact paid dividends on 58 minutes when a direct ball appeared to be under control with Giles sweeping up play but indecision cost him dearly when the strength of Moss saw him seize the ball and despite calls for a foul, Moss was able to round the committed Thompson from 10 yards. County maintained their verve going forward with Dorchester being forced into several loose clearances. On 65 minutes, County went close with a good exchange on the right channel involving Hall and Duffy before the ball was swept low across the six yard area and Hughes read it well to strike cleanly from an acute angle only for a last minute intervention to divert the ball for a corner. County made a change soon after with Jamal Easter replacing Anthony Church. Dorchester seized the initiative again with County struggling to maintain control of the game. On 75 minutes, Dorchester threatened again from the right channel when Crittenden and Hill combined well and a low cross went flashing across the six yard box but Moss could only direct the ball wide of the right post from an acute angle. County paid the price for dithering on the ball in a dangerous area on 82 minutes when Collins and Giles failed to take responsibility to clear and Mudge prised the ball away with a strong run down the right flank. County appeared to have recovered when Hillier managed a half clearance but Osei made the most of the space offered to curl the ball into the left corner from 12 yards. County were forced to push on with the game in danger of slipping away from them and the match reached boiling point on 85 minutes when Clay recklessly lunged at Duffy in control of the ball on the left flank and he was sent off. Some justice was restored from the resulting free kick with Collins sweeping in an excellent delivery which the keeper could not claim and Easter pounced to stab the ball home from 6 yards. County went all out for the winner with Dorchester unsettled at the back forcing a couple of corners which they went close to applying the final touch. County looked to have won the game on 90 minutes when they worked the ball around well with Rose supplying Harris and a good through ball found Duffy on the right side of the area. Despite claims for offside, he played an intelligent square pass to find Hughes who passed the ball home. County were immediately on the back foot and their inability to hold the ball and play the ball into the right areas cost them dear in injury time. Dorchester won a corner and when the ball was lofted deep Hill was again given too much space and place a low shot which Thompson did well to save but Hill made the most by placing the rebound into the left corner with no man on the post.          

 

COUNTY STATS

Thompson (5) – kicked well but made to look very ordinary with little protection in front of him and a break down of communication.

Stephens (6) – offered less charity than some of the other defenders and made himself hard to beat on the floor.

Collins (5) – marking and awareness was poor on times offering too much space. Contributed with several good set pieces.  

Giles (3) – struggled throughout lacking confidence to make tackles. Got punished several times for not playing safe and clearing safely.

Hillier (5) – did his best in the air but did not have his own way. Distribution was poor on times and too complex.

Church (6) – competed tenaciously and read play well. passed tidily in general despite being often forced back.    

Harris (7) – did his best to stifle and use the ball effectively, strong in the air and scored a nice goal

Hall (7) – worked hard, showed plenty of enterprise and despite often having two men on him he rarely wasted the ball

Hughes (6) – had a good first half and made some strong run forward but struggled to hold the ball under pressure  

Walsh (7) – always seemed to have the upper hand in the air, worked hard to chase the ball and should have scored.

Rose (5) – bright start, linked well going forward but needs to help out more coming back on times.

 

Referee: E Smith (5) – seemed to frustrate both sides giving free kicks the wrong way on times. Failed to spot a valid penalty call for County    

 

OPPOSITION

Their defence looked slow and nervous from the start and it was no surprise to me that made changes at half time. They have a couple of experienced players like Crittenden and Hill who managed to steer them through the game today. Patient in their approach in generally but offered little quality.

 

MAN OF THE MATCH

Kevin Hill – his experience got Dorchester out of jail today and knew when to get forward and when to get back.

 

IF YOU WERE DEAN HOLDSWORTH WHAT WOULD YOU DO

We struggled throughout defending set pieces and crosses some were often left uncontested. Organisation and leadership was often lacking today especially at the back. A centre half to sweep up direct balls and clear effectively would go a long way because we are not going to score four in every game. The Walsh/Church substitution was bit puzzling because both players were offering some intelligence in holding up the ball the best they could.