NEWPORT COUNTY 2 WELLING UNITED 2

County were denied a second successive win by an injury time  equaliser from Welling at Newport Stadium. County won this match 'on points' for their enterprising football; Wings lived up to their reputation for physical and direct football. A draw against a Wings side who have lost only three times this season is a creditable result but County will be kicking themselves for not having taken  all three points  from a match  in which they were twice ahead.

Welling started the game strongly and Tony Pennock was at full stretch to parry a volley from the edge of the box from Rob Owen.  County began to take control of the midfield battle and took the lead in the 18th minute through the previously luckless Matt Green. It was Green’s first league goal on his 11th full appearance for County – and it was a goal well worth the wait. Green controlled a long kick from Pennock on the edge of the area and, in one movement, swivelled and hit an unstoppable volley into the far corner of the net. Gary Fisken gave another commanding performance in midfield and twice went close to doubling the lead at the midpoint of the half. First, he lashed a volley narrowly wide of the right hand post. A minute later he forced a spectacular save from Jamie Turner who turned the ball around the left hand post. County were dominant, and the mercurial Jason Bowen drifted inside two defenders only to see his low shot turned agonisingly around the post by the busy Turner.       

Craig Hughes should have put County two up in the 51st minute but scooped his second attempt over the bar from six yards with Jamie Turner lying prostrate on the ground from making the initial save. The dangerous Che Stadhart beat the offside trap but Matt Bodkin failed to connect with his low cross. The Wings equalised in the 67th minute when Jamie Day’s in-swinging corner eluded all the challengers for the ball which went in at the near post. Pennock appealed for a push but referee Lee Cox awarded the goal.

County regained the lead fortuitously in the 75th minute when Barry Ashby intercepted a through ball intended for Matt Green only to look on in horror as his back pass rolled passed the advancing Turner and into the unguarded net. Welling always looked a threat and James Pinnock rattled the County bar with a hook shot on the turn. County thought they had the three points in the bag but were denied by a superb stoppage time free kick from the boot of Jamie Day. From a short corner kick involving Bowen and Jenkins County looked to run the clock down with the ninety minutes up - but needlessly gave the ball away. Che Stadhart was felled chasing the long ball downfield and up stepped Day to curl a delightful dead ball shot around the hand of the despairing Pennock and into the far corner.     

County should not be too hard on themselves for dropping two points and should take heart from another good all round performance. If County can maintain this form they need not fear relegation.