League leaders Plymouth Argyle come from behind to win at Rodney Parade…
The Exiles made three changes to the team that started the Boxing Day defeat at the Hive, with Matt Partridge, Jazzi Barnum-Bobb and Scott Barrow making returns to the starting XI.
County enjoyed a good spell of early pressure, with Scott Barrow looking comfortable in his new adapted midfield role. A bouncing ball inside the area was directed towards goal by a spectacular bicycle-kick by Lenell John-Lewis, but his effort bounced narrowly wide of the post.
Just after the twenty-minute mark the Exiles managed to break the deadlock. A long-ball forward was touched into the path of Scott Boden by the leaping Lenell John-Lewis and the striker was able to lift the ball over the advancing Luke McCormick to give the Exiles the lead.
GOAL COUNTY (Boden 24')
Plymouth had an opportunity to respond to going a goal down almost instantly. A deep free-kick for the visitors was headed back across goal and had to be headed off the line by skipper Mark Byrne.
Just before the break the visitors had an opportunity to bring the scores level. Scot Bennett was robbed in possession on the edge of the area and the loose ball was picked up by Craig Tanner, who fired a low-driven effort just past the post.
Just minutes into the second half and the visitors found the eqaulising goal. A cross from the right was met at the far post by Jake Jervis, who placed his header out of the reach of Joe Day.
GOAL PLYMOUTH (Jervis 48')
County responded well to the early second half goal and looked to hit the visitors on the break. Tommy O’Sullivan delivered a dangerous cross, after a winding run down the right wing, that nearly found the towering Lenell John-Lewis, who was poised to send a header towards goal.
Joe Day made a fantastic save to tip a powerful effort by Josh Simpson around the post, as the visitors went about asserting themselves in the game as the second-half progressed.
On the seventy-minute mark Plymouth managed to grab the all important second goal. Ryan Brunt was given the time and space in the area to fire a powerful volley towards goal that beat the outstretched Joe Day.
GOAL PLYMOUTH (Brunt 70')
The goal sparked a revival from the Exiles, as they looked to find a goal to bring the scores back level. Lenell John-Lewis had a powerful close-range header pushed away by McCormick and the keeper was alert to deny Mark Byrne, after the skipper was played in on goal after good interplay between himself and Scott Boden.
The Exiles were unable to carve out any further opportunities as the clock ticked down and the visitors were able to hold on to their narrow lead, to ensure that 2015 ended in defeat for County.
FULL TIME: NEWPORT COUNTY AFC 1 - 2 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE