Matty Dolan scored his first goal for Newport County AFC in Friday night’s 1-1 draw with Port Vale at Rodney Parade.
Dolan’s strike broke the deadlock during the game just nine minutes into the second-half, before Anton Forrester equalised for the away side with ten minutes to go.
The goal was a product of a superb interception from Dolan’s midfield partner Robbie Willmott, who glided his way through two challenges, before setting up Dolan on the edge-of-the-area to smash virtually through the opposing goalkeeper and into the middle of the goal.
His first goal for the Exiles came on his 19th appearance for the club after joining over the summer from Yeovil Town.
However, Dolan also picked up his fifth yellow card during the game and will therefore be suspended for next weekend’s trip to Accrington Stanley.
Post-match, Dolan exclusively told iFollow Exiles about his rollercoaster night, his thoughts on the goal and how he reflects on County’s start to the season as a whole.
On the Port Vale game…
“I think we’re a bit frustrated to be honest and it feels like a loss.
“I think we didn’t really cause them anything apart from the goal but I think we were a little bit sloppy ourselves, went 1-0 up and should have seen the game out.
“The dressing room there is a bit frustrated that we haven’t taken all three points but games come thick and fast, we’ve got eight days until Accrington away now.
“We’ll get ourselves right, dust ourselves off, we’ve put a point on the board but ultimately I think it’s two points dropped for ourselves.”
On scoring his first goal for the club…
“I’ve been playing a bit higher up the last couple of weeks and I’ve been saying to the gaffer that I’ve been due one.
“I think I owed him that one so I’m really happy to get the goal and hopefully there will be a lot more to come.
“I think I had a few chances for a cutback there as-well during the game so as long as I’m up there and practise them week in, week out then I’m sure I can notch a lot more this season.
“But obviously, like I said, I think we were a bit sloppy, two points dropped but let’s focus on the positives and let’s make sure we bounce back next week and put three points on the board which we need in the league now.”
On the three games at Rodney Parade in just six days…
“I think if I’m honest then as a group we wanted win-win-win and that’s the confidence that we have got at the minute.
“I think it was fantastic on Tuesday night to watch the young boys out there. They fully, fully deserved all the credits that they got on Tuesday night.
“The FA Cup was a brilliant win for us, next round of that beat Cambridge United here and get ourselves a big draw and bring some money in for the club.
“We have had a good start to the season let’s not gloss over it, tonight if we’d have won then 5th and Second Round of the FA Cup and I think many people would have snapped your hand off for that at the start of the season.
“Ultimately two points dropped today because we pride ourselves on our home form so we’ll go again now and make sure that it’s three points next time we’re at Rodney Parade.”
On Robbie Willmott’s assist and man-of-the-match performance…
“Robbie was brilliant.
“I really did think Robbie was very good tonight and I think he fully deserved all the credits he got.
“But ultimately, two points dropped, we need to take the positives because we’re disappointed with the goal conceded.
“We should be taking three points there, I think Port Vale are celebrating like it’s a win in there but hey-ho, they’ve come to get a point and we’ve got to make sure we don’t let other teams get a point from now on.”
On his upcoming suspension…
“It’s frustrating for myself because I think I’ve got my fifth yellow there, don’t know why the referee has pulled us for that to be honest.
“I think that means I’m banned unless anything can change so it’s a bit frustrating and a bit kind of… it’s exactly what they wanted to do.
“Make it scrappy, bring us down to their level; but we’ll focus on the positives now and we’ll be looking forward to a tough trip to Accrington and make sure we come back with three points there.”
On that trip to Accrington Stanley next weekend…
“Accrington have obviously only just missed out on the last two promotions.
“They will be full of confidence, but we’re full of confidence as-well and I think we’ve almost got nothing to lose.
“We’ve got to start putting three points on the board and we want to start making sure that we don’t kind of hit a bit of a lull.
“But we’ve got to go again now, rally ourselves together and start putting some points on the board now I think. We’ll be doing all we can in training this week to go there and get three points.”