Magpies succumb to leaders (From Dorset Echo)

Magpies succumb to leaders

7:40pm Monday 28th December 2009 in

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NEWPORT COUNTY 3 Dorchester TOWN 0 DORCHESTER Town put up a brave defensive effort at Newport County but the runaway leaders proved just too good for Ashley Vickers’ men with a stirring second-half display.

Vickers, a former County captain, performed admirably alongside Phil Walsh, who also had a spell with the Exiles last season, in central defence.

The pair frustrated the home side’s much vaunted attack in the first half but two goals from Craig Reid and one from home captain Gary Warren condemned the Magpies to their fourth defeat in their last six games.

The opening period was quiet in the extreme with Newport’s season’s best crowd of 2,205 given little to shout about apart from some hotly contested free-kicks.

County’s first real chance did not come until the 25th minute when ex-Magpie Charlie Henry raced down the right flank and squared for Reid whose instinctive snapshot was straight at goalkeeper Regan Coward.

Vickers hacked the rebound behind for a corner and the crowd came to life two minutes later when Sam Foley fired a free-kick just inches over Coward’s bar from 25 yards.

Holdsworth’s men continued to make all the running with Dorchester content to sit back and soak up the pressure.

Presumably the idea was to hit County on the break but they rarely threatened Glyn Thompson in the home goal.

The Exiles were not much better, however, with passes being constantly misplaced and the final ball from the midfield more often than not woefully inaccurate.

Reid hit the side-netting with a decent effort two minutes before the break and Henry dragged his shot wide in time added on, but neither side really deserved to lead.

The natives were getting restless but home nerves were settled on 57 minutes when County took the lead thanks to a defensive error from Dorchester left-back Neil Martin.

Foley pounced on his attempted clearance and laid the chance on a plate for Reid to side-foot home from five yards.

Newport youngster Kerry Morgan, on loan from Swansea City, was the main creative force behind the second in the 64th minute.

Reid raced on to his inch-perfect through ball, which took out the entire Dorchester back line, and finished with a cheeky chip over Coward to effectively seal the win.

The Magpies brought on Matt Groves to replace Jules Emati-Emati, who had run himself into the ground with no reward up front.

And ex-Arsenal star Ian Selley came on for Kyle Critchell in an attempt to add some spark to their midfield but, despite Vickers grazing the bar with a header, there only seemed to be one side likely to score.

And skipper Warren duly wrapped up the points seven minutes from time, rising unmarked in the box to head home a Jamie Collins’ free-kick.

The margin of victory was perhaps harsh on Dorchester but they will not come up against sides of the quality of Newport again this season and they certainly showed enough fighting spirit to suggest they can move away from the relegation zone in the coming weeks.

Newport: Thompson, Morris, Collins, Turk, Warren, Cochlin, Morgan (Coutts 68), Nicholls, Reid, Foley (Rose 74), Henry (Holgate 80). Subs not used: Giles, Blackburn Magpies: Coward, Hill, Martin, Crittenden, Walsh, Vickers, Jermyn, Critchell (Selley 67), Moss, Emati-Emati (Groves 65), Devlin. Subs not used: Walker, Bowles, Nodwell