Report by Mark Vickery at Spytty Park

Newport County 0

Ebbsfleet United 1 (Shakes 20)

Attendance: 1,412

Home form continues to burden County

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS

The pitch looks heavy and if we can’t play today we need to keep our resolve and patience 

CONDITIONS

Deceiving, mild with sunny spells and little wind but pitch slippery in patches after yesterday’s rain      

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT

Battled in vain but only prepared to roll up our sleeves after the break

TURNING POINT

Probably the last of post hitting chances by County in the second half

THE MATCH

County made one change with Tom Miller the unfortunate one relegated to the bench in place of David Pipe. The early signs were not good in this match with County showing a passive approach in the early stages and Ebbsfleet pressed play with ease forcing County deep. Ebbsfleet were lively and strong holding the ball with Pinney and Willock offering a good outlet up front and County struggled to win possession. County were most effective on the break and there was plenty of encouragement for Knights down the left channel with him having better over full back Stone. County went close a couple times inside the first ten minutes with Knights providing decent crosses from the left side of the area which Pipe met at the back post but was unable to work the keeper. County were given another warning on 13 minutes when Ebbsfleet broke quickly from deep exploiting County with a strong run by Shakes down the right channel but despite getting turned Hughes did well to recover and deny his progress inside the area with a clean tackle. Ebbsfleet were buoyed by their penetration in the final third of the pitch winning a few corners and quickly taken corner on the left side caught County sleeping and a Lorraine header from 8 yards forced Potter top tip over the bar. County failed to heed the warning and were punished on 20 minutes when some lax marking on the right side invited a low cross into the six yard box and despite Willock seeing his shot on the turn deflected Shakes stabbed the ball home at the back post. County showed some improvement to their game with some better cohesion in the final third and they were awarded a free kick inside the “d” on 26 minutes after McAllister had been fouled when holding up the ball. Rose curled his free kick around the left side of the wall but the keeper Edwards reacted well to parry the ball away. McAllister continued to do well under pressure and bring other players in effectively and County were denied on 30 minutes when McAllister caressed a good ball into the path of Foley who drove a good effort from 20 yards which the keeper turned around the right post. County looked certain to score on 38 minutes when Ebbsfleet could only half clear to the left side of the area and Rose whipped in an in-swinging cross enticing the keeper to a ball he couldn’t claim and Hatswell saw his downward header cleared from the line by Marwa. Ebbsfleet settled things down again as half time approach as they continued to work hard to maintain possession and press play further up the pitch.

County must have been given a dressing down at half time and started the second with more purpose. On 48 minutes, an opportunist effort by Foley from near the right flank caught the keeper off his line and the ball crashed against the bar and the rebound presented McAllister with a chance which hit first time but it went just over the bar from 12 yards. County increased the tempo of their game forcing Ebbsfleet on the backfoot with Knights carrying the ball strongly down the left channel with Hughes working well in tandem. Ebbsfleet continued to turn defence into attack well exploiting space well with Pinney pivotal in holding up play to bring in other players. On 50 minutes, Phipp went close with a shot from distance for Ebbsfleet which Potter saved low down but could not hold but offside came to rescue for County with Willock looking to pounce for the rebound. County started to unsettle Ebbsfleet with forceful runs at their defence and they looked certain to score from such a situation on 52 minutes when Foley darted down the middle and saw his shot from 18 yards crash against the right post. The rebound invited Knights to shoot first time from 12 yards but the shot fizzed just over the bar when he should have hit the target. County continued to offer plenty of energy and a good move on 57 minutes instigated by Rose saw start and end the move, but his shot with the outside of the his left foot inside the area was parried away by the keeper. Hatswell was booked moments later for County for a mistimed challenge on Pinney who then got himself in the book for kicking the ball away to waste time. County continued to threaten down the left flank with Hughes making some good contributions from left back and his cross from near the left corner flag on 60 minutes was tipped onto the bar by the keeper.  Ebbsfleet made a change soon after with West replacing Phil as they sought some control back of the game. County made their first chance on 63 minutes with Pipe being replaced by Robbie Matthews who has returned from his loan spell. County another decent opportunity on 70 minutes from a Foley corner on the left side which presented the unmarked Hatswell with a headed chance from 8 yards but he could only head over. There was another change soon after for County with McAllister being replaced by Jarvis. Ebbsfleet were happy to sit back and absorb pressure and look for the strength of Pinney and Willock holding the ball in the final third. County looked most effective when they could attack from deep to exploit space and another chance went begging on 76 minutes when Foley did well with a weaving run on the right side of the area which took him to the byline and his low cross into the six yard area was headed just past the right post by Matthews. Ebbsfleet made another change soon after with Pinney being replaced by Darvill and replaced Docherty with Miller. County found their opponents difficult to break down in the final ten minutes with long throw of Miller being well dealt with by the Ebbsfleet defence and County were restricted to shots from distance by Foley and Rose which went straight at the keeper. In the four minutes of injury time, County were invited to launch several crosses into the area but they lacked quality to trouble the Ebbsfleet defence well marshalled by captain Paul Lorraine  

Potter (6) – let his defence sit a bit too deep on times but did well with clearances under pressure, handling a bit erratic on times with shots low down.

Rodgers (6) – worked hard up and down the pitch and bright going forward but limited with crosses, often second best in the challenge allowing too much possession

Yakubi (7) – most accomplished defender showed plenty of strength on and off the ball and strong with his headers.  

Hatswell (5) – not winning enough of those key tackles today as he was slow to get into position. Struggled with clearances on time and looked tired late on in the game        

Hughes (7) – put under pressure from some strong runs but made some good tackles back. Did well in the second half complimenting with Knights

Docherty (6) – competed well in the air and on the floor but let himself down overcomplicating passes and wasting possession in good areas       

Rose (6) – quiet game found space at a premium, looked leggy on a sapping pitch and lacked usual quality with set pieces

Pipe (5) – struggled to get into the game and influence matters. Only threat offered was with runs to the back post.  

Foley (7) – denied by post twice and despite quiet first half really came alive after the break with drive carrying the ball and set up chances for others         

Knights (6) – still not firing on all cylinders, offered plenty of pace and drive making some neat exchanges but needs to get into the box more to threaten.   

McAllister (7) – the more cohesive moves came through him and despite not having his own way in the air picked out some clever passes

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS

Strengths – from the first minute to final minute they were dogged and physical stronger in holding the ball. Importantly got men back quickly in numbers

Weaknesses – right back looked uncertain against pace and not tested enough, they went route one for large parts of the game and time wasting could have cost them.          

Opportunities – largely on the counter they worked crosses well across the pitch and changed their tact in the second half to keep the ball better in the final third.     

Threats – Pinney was able to wriggle away from several challenges in danger positions, Willock and Lorraine decent in the air and West with shot from distance

OFFICIALS

D Ford (6) – Lenient, missed a lot of cynical climbing and pulling, bringing back play needlessly on times. Got the booking he issued correctly though   

MAN OF THE MATCH

Paul Lorraine – Ebbsfleet captain, organised defence well and got ahead to win the key headers and made some vital interventions

IF YOU WERE JUSTIN EDINBURGH WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County inexplicably sat back in the first half as Ebbsfleet were quickest to settle and as a result their confidence grew despite having a couple of new players up front. Inconsistency in our home league form could become a real bugbear this season unless it is addressed soon as County really need to stamp their authority on games and dictate the tempo of the games rather than let their opponents grasp the opportunity. County improved their work ethic and tempo after the break but for all their chances it was all in vain by the end with the keeper or the post denying them a deserved share of the spoils. County sat far too deep on times today allowing themselves to be pressed back too easily under physical pressure and Ebbsfleet were invited to maintain possession. This would have been fine if they could have organised counter attacks better because with the way Ebbsfleet set themselves up to play, because on times it was easier to attack them from deep.