Newport County 1  Exeter City 1   Saturday 20th September 2019.

With three home league wins to their credit, two of which were against teams that were top of League Two, Newport were hoping to make it a hat-trick when Top-of-the-Table Exeter visited Rodney Parade on a scorching hot September afternoon.

Even though it was so warm, the Exeter team came out in black shirts with red shorts. I really think that their strip would have been less absorbent of the heat had they played in their customary red and white stripes. However, Newport were soon to learn that this team would be no walk-over whatever the heat since. Exeter pumped several balls into the Newport penalty area in the early stages and looked as if they were going to dominate the game. It took an excellent punched clearance from the Newport No.1 to stem the tide. Later, Nicky Law slid in for one cross and just missed the target but it was not long before Exeter took the lead. A low right-wing centre deceived everyone in the goal area except the lively Lee Martin who poked one home at the far post after about a quarter of an hour.

This seemed to inject a bit more urgency into the Newport side with Jamille Matt forcing a fine save from Lewis Ward, the Exeter keeper and Joss Labadie for Newport went close with a shot from outside the box. The tide had certainly turned in Newport’s favour and some frustration was creeping into the Exeter defending when Almond was taken out on a promising run towards the Exeter goal. A yellow card was issued but the resulting free-kick steamed well over the bar.  The Exeter keeper was being kept quite busy and in one skirmish he took a knock and required attention from the bench whilst the other 22 out-players to vacate the playing area for a water break in the dug-outs. When the game re-started it was still Newport in the ascendency and Peirce Sweeney was called upon to clear off the line after a mix-up in the penalty area. But most of the Newport centres were met almost every time by an Exeter defender’s head.

Half-Time: Newport 0  Exeter 1

Newport were still the more attacking side in the second half. Abrahams crosse for Matt from a quickly taken free-kick but the striker’s effort was just wide. Then there was a triple blocking by the Exeter defenders – first Matt, then Willmott both had shots blocked only for Labadie to shoot over the bar. Another cross by Sheehan looked very promising but Matt’s header was wide. It was all Newport now and halfway through the second half there was a terrible mix-up of late tackles and players falling over stray legs with four players finishing up in a heap just outside the Exeter penalty area. The referee’s whistle remained silent whilst one Newport player escaped the melee with the ball only to be legged up by a frustrated defender. Penalty awarded and duly dispatched by Abrahams to level the scores.  There was still frustration in the Exeter camp with another clumsy attempt at a tackle flattened a Newport forward running in towards the Exeter penalty area that resulting in another yellow card for the offender. Again, the free-kick sailed over the bar.

However, Exeter have demonstrated a recent skill in acquiring late goals and in the extra time allowed for stoppages the result was almost given to Exeter when Their keeper fumbled a tackle with the lively Lee Martin in his own penalty area and having lost control of the ball just managed to push it out of the forward’s reach before assistance arrived in the shape of a Newport defender who cleared the danger with a strong kick out of play.

4,763 people watched this game and it would be difficult for anyone to truthfully say “we were robbed”. The early Exeter attacking was excellent as was their second-half defending.  Newport, with a bit more accuracy in their shooting look like a team that could be going places. I believe that both these sides look like contenders for the top 7 places in League Two this season.

words Mike Commins