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GAME DETAILS
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Conference
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Attendance: 6,616
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| 109 games.....358 goals
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DT92 Members at this game: (you can click here to load your profile picture) |
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gashead eric
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Play off final 2nd leg won 2-0 on aggregate. I got assulted.
Match Report
If Carlsberg did centenary years, they’d need to get up pretty early in the morning to better Newport County AFC: the unfashionable club from South Wales who both began and indeed ended their centenary year by appearing at Wembley Stadium. The last time we graced the footballing Mecca, it was a domestic cup final: this time it’s for the biggest prize of all, a coveted place amongst the Football League elite and the chance to end a quarter of a century of hurt. Who said fairytales don’t come true eh? It’s just the, ahem, ‘small matter’ of Welsh rivals Wrexham to overcome now: for it is they who stand between County and the vision Mr. Hando and his loyal disciples had all those years ago. Visitors’ Grimsby had started well at a rammed Rodney Parade: indeed it was they who seemed the likelier scorers until a Christian Jolley goal on the half-hour ultimately killed the tie stone dead: there was never going to be a route back after that. Indeed the bubbling Exiles proceeded to dominate the match thereafter and might well have rattled up a far more emphatic score-line in truth. Not that it mattered a jot in the grand scheme of things: the job was done and a record attendance for NCAFC MkII began to wildly celebrate in earnest.
Boss Justin Edinburgh opted to stick rather than twist: happy to keep faith with both the personnel and the system that had seen the Exiles triumph at Blundell Park in the first-leg. The only change in the match day sixteen was amongst the substitutes, where top-scorer Aaron O’Connor was a welcome returnee: the unlucky Conor Washington being the man to step down. Amidst flames, flags and firecrackers, a ‘Dave’ Parade packed to the rafters cut an epic sight as the two sides strolled into the arena to do battle for a third time in eight days: the visitors from Cleethorpes well represented by their own travelling faithful who only added colour and spice to an already turbo-charged atmosphere. This is why football fans the world over put up with so much annual heartbreak and despair: just for the odd day in the sun like this.
As the first leg had proved, this was always going to be a twitchy, somewhat nervy occasion: born out by the opening moments in which the ball was tossed around like an extremely hot potato. Having to chase the game, it was the Mariners who ultimately settled the quicker: indeed they might have levelled the tie after only five minutes. A clever corner-kick routine allowed Joe Colbeck to tee up Tom Naylor for a chance, which thankfully for Newport, he fired high over Lenny Pidgeley’s crossbar. It breathed fresh hope into the visitors nevertheless and Liam Hearn in particular began to stretch County down the flanks: indeed it was he who provided an opening for Craig Disley on eight minutes that Ismail Yakubu did brilliantly to block. Two minutes later, Tony James had to clear his lines pretty rapidly following some excellent work involving Colbeck and Andi Thanoj. It was clear that whoever nabbed that first goal was going to prove crucially pivotal.
County gradually began to find their way into the game offensively, with strikers Christian Jolley and Danny Crow offering their usual good outlets: a tester from Michael Flynn on 14 minutes leaving Grimsby keeper James McKeown largely untroubled. The Mariners hit back and a brace of corners were won: both of which found Pidgeley at his commanding best, before a set-piece on 19 minutes delivered the game’s best chance yet. Sam Hatton swung the kick long downfield, where Naylor seized upon a half-clearance to drill in a shot from 20-yards that Pidgeley did superbly well to tip around the post. Within a minute, the outstanding Alex Gilbey had become the first caution of the afternoon following a robust challenge on Marcus Marshall. County’s best piece of football to date occurred shortly after: skipper David Pipe heading wide following a delightful run and cross from Andy Sandell: a clear warning to the visitors that County were beginning to ease themselves into a more attacking mode.
That point was emphatically rammed home on the half-hour when the dangerous Christian Jolley put County ahead: rendering the stadium completely berserk in the process. Once again it was Gilbey who was the catalyst, receiving Jolley’s pass, he returned the favour with some aplomb sending the striker racing clear down the right: the mercurial Jolley did the rest with one touch and a deadly finish low into the far corner of McKeown’s net. Like a wounded boxer, the Grimsby players appeared to be visibly reeling from the blow: such was the massive psychological effect of the strike. Town’s Tom Naylor quickly became the game’s second booking on 36 minutes: his frustration clear following a challenge on Flynn. With the shackles now thrown clear, Jolley almost doubled that Newport lead before Gilbey smashed a venomous shot just past the Grimsby upright. A Liam Hearn shot wide of goal on the stroke of half-time being the best the Mariners could muster in response.
Half-time: County 1 Grimsby 0
Grimsby opted to make a change at the break: Andy Cook replacing defender Shaun Pearson: it was the hosts who continued to look the more threatening however, County picking up straight where they had left off in the first period. On 51 minutes, Pipe and Jolley combined sweetly before Flynn drove inches wide of the post. Six minutes later, it was Flynn again going close: this time his well-executed shot was well held by the now busy McKeown. The subsequent home dominance drew a second Grimsby change on 65 minutes, striker Ross Hannah entering the fray in a like-for-like swap with Liam Hearn. It appeared to alter precious little and defender Ian Miller almost conjured up an own goal with a header back to his keeper that caused more than a moment of panic.
County were thoroughly enjoying themselves now and a third Town substitution was made with forward Dayle Southwell replacing defender Sam Hatton: before Justin Edinburgh responded with his first change on 72 minutes: Aaron O’Connor racing on to loud cheers as Danny Crow departed to equal appreciation. Offensively the Mariners were running short of ideas now: the visiting forwards finding the Newport trio of centre-backs in quite dominant form: and Gilbey was a whisker away from making it 2-0 on 77 minutes, the teenager firing just wide of the upright after some mesmerising play on the bye-line from wizards O’Connor and Jolley. Shortly after, substitute Hannah incurred the wrath of the referee for a needless handball, before the tireless Christian Jolley earned himself a well-earned rest on 85 minutes with Robbie Willmott joining the proceedings. It was just a case of seeing time out now, which the Exiles did with comparative ease before Mr. Kinsley gave us three sharp shrills of his whistle: thus allowing the manic celebrations to truly begin.
“It was a great day and I’m delighted to have got the goal and got the job done” explained match winner Christian Jolley afterwards: “My target was 15 goals when I came here and I’m on 14 now, so a goal at Wembley would put me where I want to be. I want to try and get this club into the Football League and I think we deserve it. The gaffer has done an unbelievable job since he came here: we’ve over-achieved this year when you look at where we came from last year. We wanted to win the league but now we’re in the play-off final at Wembley: and we’re not going to stop here – we want to finish the job we started. It’s going to be the highlight of my career, I’ve never played at Wembley.” Teenager Alex Gilbey was equally as thrilled: “The boys have been absolutely brilliant” he explained: “It’s fantastic and such an experience for me. I am so thankful for this chance and hopefully I’ll be playing at Wembley, I’m already thinking about it: it’s genuinely a dream come true for me.”
“It was the ultimate team display” said delighted boss Justin Edinburgh post match: “I am so proud of the players, every man has played his part and it’s been a fantastic group effort. For me personally, it’s a huge achievement in such a short space of time: this eclipses getting to the Trophy final last year and keeping the club up, it’s even more special. As a manager it’s my best day: I want to manage in the Football League and I want to do it with Newport County. It’ll be a massive day next Sunday and I want us to perform as I know we can: this group has a real belief and desire to be successful. It’s going to be a huge day for Welsh football.”
Final Score: County 1 Grimsby 0
(Newport County win 2-0 on aggregate)
Bookings: County: Gilbey (20), Pidgeley (90) / Grimsby: Naylor (36), Hannah (79).
Referee: Mr. N. Kinsley
MoM: The whole team (impossible to pick just one hero)
Match report by Ade Williams
Newport County AFC
40. Lenny Pidgeley
2. David Pipe
5. Tony James
6. Ismail Yakubu
21. Byron Anthony
13. Andy Sandell
8. Lee Minshull
17. Michael Flynn
30. Alex Gilbey
23. Christian Jolley
9. Danny Crow
Subs:
3. Andrew Hughes
7. Aaron O''Connor (Crow 72)
24. Robbie Willmott (Jolley 86)
26. Scott Donnelly
1. Alan Julian
Grimsby Town
13. James McKeown
2. Sam Hatton
5. Shaun Pearson
6. Ian Miller
3. Aswad Thomas
7. Joe Colbeck
29. Tom Naylor
8. Craig Disley
21. Andi Thanoj
26. Marcus Marshall
10. Liam Hearn
Subs:
11. Frankie Artus
12. Andy Cook (Perason 46)
19. Bradley Wood
20. Dayle Southwell (Hatton 69)
25. Ross Hannah (Hearn 65)
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SouthSider
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bjn
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109 games.....358 goals
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mc2810
17 |
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