In our latest series of articles, we will be taking a look back at the 2019-2020 season in more detail as we look at each match and review our season month by month.
Newport County AFC carried their unbeaten Football League run at home into October and continued to pick up the points.
Rodney Parade proved to be a good place for the Exiles and they welcomed the month in style with an absolute screamer before a defeat left their Leasing.com Trophy hopes in the balance. However, the men in amber managed to bounce back to continue their climb up the SkyBet League Two table.
A late penalty kept their unbeaten league run at Rodney Parade intact but the month ended in disappointment with a loss on the road.
Newport County AFC 1-0 Carlisle United – Rodney Parade (October 5, 2019).
The Exiles left it late to claim all three points against Carlisle.
Josh Sheehan’s attempt in the 78th minute was the first shot the hosts managed to get on target before George Nurse replaced Matty Dolan in the dying minutes and then struck a wonder goal from 30 yards – not a bad way to bag your first Football League goal.
Team: King; McNamara (Abrahams 45), O’Brien (C), Howkins, Haynes; Bennett; Willmott, Dolan (Nurse 87); Sheehan; Amond (Whitely 69), Matt.
Newport County AFC 0-2 Exeter City – Rodney Parade (October 8, 2019)
Having lost to West Ham United U21s in a thrilling encounter in their opening Leasing.com Trophy encounter, the Exiles needed a win to get their campaign on track. However, Matt Jay scored in either half for the Grecians to leave County’s cup qualification hanging by a thread.
Team: Townsend; Jefferies, Ekpiteta, Inniss, Nurse; Dolan (C); Watts (George 46), Maloney (Evans 75); Whitely; Abrahams (Hillier 77), Poleon.
Newport County AFC 2-1 Scunthorpe United – Rodney Parade (October 19, 2019)
Josh Sheehan inspired County to victory over the Iron as they moved up to third in the SkyBet League Two table.
The playmaker set up Amond just before half time but the visitors hit back shortly after the restart when Mark O’Brien turned James Perch’s cross into his own net.
Sheehan then stepped up around the hour mark to rifle an effort into the top corner and earn all three points.
Team: King; O’Brien, Bennett, Inniss; McNamara, Labadie (C) (Nurse 85), Sheehan, Haynes; Willmott; Amond (Abrahams 85), Matt.
Newport County AFC 1-1 Crawley Town – Rodney Parade (October 22, 2019)
Michael Flynn’s men maintained their unbeaten start to the season at home as they fought back to salvage a draw against Crawley.
Tristan Abrahams was introduced on 73 minutes and his first action was to score from the spot after Sheehan was felled in the box to cancel out Ashley Nathaniel-George’s first-half penalty.
The Exiles piled on the pressure in search for a winner with Abrahams rattling the post and seeing an effort cleared off the line.
Team: King; McNamara (Nurse 45), Inniss, O’Brien, Haynes; Bennett; Labadie (C) (Abrahams 73), Sheehan, Wilmott; Amond, Matt (Whitely 45).
Colchester United 3-1 Newport County AFC – JobServe Community Stadium (October 26, 2019)
It was a disappointing end to the month as County were beaten on the road.
Abrahams got the Exiles off to the perfect start, latching onto Sheehan’s through ball and firing past Dean Gerken.
Former Exile Ryan Jackson drew Colchester level with a deflected effort before Ben Stevenson fired them ahead.
Courtney Senior then wrapped things up in the second half.
Team: King; McNamara, O’Brien (C), Inniss, Haynes; Willmott (Labadie 45), Sheehan, Bennett, Nurse (Matt 45); Amond (Dolan 76), Abrahams.
Top scorer in October:
Tristan Abrahams – 2 goals
Join us in our next article as we move onto November!
Article Series by Jay Bayford and Dylan Scarborough