We continue to take a look back at the 2015/16 season, taking a detailed look at the month of September.
After a slow start to the season in August, Newport went into September hoping for a better run of form to kick start their season and although the result didn’t quite go the way that the Exiles wanted, the fixture at Rodney Parade on the first day of the month was a brilliant, classic, cup tie encounter.
Tuesday 1st September 2015 – Swindon Town (H) – Drew 1-1 (Lost 7-6 on penalties) – Eliminated from Johnstone’s Paint Trophy First Round
Newport County faced Swindon in the Southern section first round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy after a bad run of form in the league and when Anton Rodgers put the visitors ahead of 19 minutes it appeared as though Newport would be heading out of their second cup in three weeks. Aaron Collins had different ideas though and he equalised for County mid-way through the second half to send the game to extra time. Neither side could break the deadlock in extra time and so the game went to a penalty shoot-out. Collins stepped up with the scores tied at six all and unfortunately missed his spot kick, leaving Will Randall to slot the ball home and send Swindon into the second round.
Saturday 5th September 2015 – York City (H) – Lost 3-0 – 24th position – 1 point
Back in league action and this time it was York City who were the visitors to Rodney Parade with Newport desperate to lift themselves off the bottom of the table. York though had other ideas and after James Berrett put them ahead just before half time they scored another two goals in the first fifteen minutes after the break to sink the Exiles to yet another defeat. To add insult to injury Danny Holmes was sent off with a little under fifteen minutes to go for a second bookable offence, and County only had one point to show for their six league matches.
Saturday 12th September 2015 – Morecambe (H) – Lost 2-1 – 24th position – 1 point
Newport once again fell a goal behind in the first half to their visitors after Alan Goodall headed home from a corner to give Morecambe the lead before Scott Barrow scored his first goal for County with a drilled effort from twenty five yards that found its way into the bottom corner. It was looking as though Newport would be able to grab only their second point of the season before referee Robert Lewis gave Morecambe a penalty in the fourth minute of added time which Paul Mullin was all too happy to dispatch into the right side of the goal to move Morecambe up to fifth and keep Newport three points from safety.
Saturday 19th September 2015 – Dagenham and Redbridge (A) – Drew 0-0 – 24th position – 2 points
It was a relatively uneventful game at Dagenham when Newport travelled there still looking for a first win. Lenell John-Lewis had the best attempt of the first half although his shot from a tight angle was wide, and Joe Day did a fine job in stoppage time keeping out Jamie Cureton to ensure that Newport took a point back along the M4 with them.
Saturday 26th September 2015 – Carlisle United (A) – Won 1-0 – 24th position – 5 points
County finally got a win under their belts in Cumbria when Tylor Blackwood, who had only arrived at Rodney Parade two days before this fixture on an emergency loan from Queens Park Rangers, came off the bench to score what would prove to be the only goal of the game on 68 minutes, when he headed home a Twumasi cross. It was big relief for everyone involved at the club to get the first win and despite County remaining at the bottom of the league after this fixture, they were now only one point away from safety.
Tuesday 29th September 2015 – Crawley Town (H) – Lost 3-0 – 24th position – 5 points
After the highs of the victory away at Carlisle, Newport were quickly reminded of the lows as Crawley Town came to Rodney Parade and put in a dominating performance to leave the victors. Two late first half goals from Gwion Edwards on loan from Swansea City put Crawley Town 2-0 ahead at the break and then Matt Harrold got on the end of one of Edwards’ crosses to seal the victory for Crawley Town in what would prove to be Terry Butcher’s last game in charge of the Exiles.
Round Up
All in all another disappointing month for Newport with only one win, the bottom position in the league and another cup exit put on their records but with new boss John Sheridan in place for the game against Exeter City at the start of October, the fans were hopeful of an upturn in form for Newport County.