In our ongoing 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.
The Exiles had an exciting start to October but unfortunately suffered a couple setbacks towards the end of the month.
November saw the start of the FA Cup – a competition we all know that the Exiles love to make a name for themselves in. This month proved to be another challenging task but one that wasn’t without its exciting moments and matches.
Newport County 1-2 Salford City – Rodney Parade (November 2, 2019)
The first home game of the new month proved to be a tough one for the Exiles as newly-promoted Salford City stunned the Rodney Parade crowed in a 2-1 win for the Lions. The scores were level at the break but Lois Maynard’s header proved to be the winner as Tristan Abrahams missed an opportunity to grab a late equaliser for County when his penalty was saved by Mark Howard.
However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom for Newport as it was announced a few days later that goalkeeper Tom King would be a part of Ryan Giggs’ Wales squad to face Azerbaijan and Hungary thanks to his fantastic start to the 2019/20 campaign.
Team: King; Inniss, O’Brien, Bennett, Willmott (Whitley 71’), Maloney (McNamara 62’), Sheehan, Dolan (Abrahams 66’), Haynes, Amond, Matt
FA Cup: Grimsby Town 1-1 Newport County – Blundell Park (November 9, 2019)
The Exiles returned to the competition that saw them capture the hearts of many lower league fans across the country last season. Wins against former Premier League champions Leicester City and Championship side Middlesbrough brought them into the limelight. It was now a question of whether they would replicate their terrific run – starting with Grimsby Town in the first round.
It was a difficult battle in Cleethorpes but Padraig Amond netted against his former club in the 80th minute from the penalty spot to force a replay back at Rodney Parade. The Exiles would live to see another day in the FA Cup and another chance for Amond to add to his impressive goal scoring tally in the competition.
Team: King; Inniss, Bennett (Poleon 77’), O’Brien, Willmott, Labadie, Sheehan, Nurse (Whitley 65’), Haynes, Abrahams (Amond 64’), Matt
Leasing.com Trophy: Cheltenham Town 4-7 Newport County – Whaddon Road (November 12, 2019)
An unbelievable fixture from the Leasing.com Trophy soon followed where two hat-tricks from Taylor Maloney and Tristan Abrahams wrapped up three vital points in the group stage of the competition. Matty Dolan was also amongst the goal scorers but all eyes were on the two who stole the show in this 11-goal thriller. Maloney’s strikes were also his first few goals in professional football and the Exiles left Gloucestershire having qualified for the knockout rounds.
Team: Townsend; Jefferies, Howkins, Woodiwiss (Bennett 90’), Nurse, Whitley, Maloney, Dolan (Jones 82’), Collins, Poleon, Abrahams (Hillier 77’)
FA Cup: Newport County 2-0 Grimsby Town – Rodney Parade (November 20, 2019)
After the international break, County came back to Rodney Parade prepared to take on Grimsby Town once again for a place in the second round of the FA Cup. Padraig Amond haunted his former club once again when he opened the scoring in the 50th minute thanks to a superb assist from Corey Whitely. Skipper Joss Labadie then sealed the Exiles’ place in the next round with a good finish off the crossbar in stoppage time.
Team: Townsend, Bennett, O’Brien, Whitley (Matt 75’), Inniss, Labadie, Haynes, Sheehan, Willmott, Abrahams (Poleon 90’), Amond (Dolan 90’)
Newport County 0-1 Oldham Athletic – Rodney Parade (November 23, 2019)
Former County assistant manager Dino Maamria brought his struggling Oldham team to South Wales for the second league game of November. The game proved to be a feisty affair but the visitors came out on top. Defender Zak Mills grabbed the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time in an afternoon to forget for the Exiles.
Team: Townsend; McNamara (Dolan 62’), Inniss, O’Brien, Haynes, Labadie (Maloney 68’), Bennett, Abrahams, Whitley (Nurse 77’), Amond, Matt
FA Cup: Maldon & Tiptree 0-1 Newport County – Wallace Binder Ground (November 29, 2019)
County were rewarded with a trip to the lowest ranked side left in the competition for the second round of the FA Cup when they visited Maldon & Tiptree. The non-league side fought hard and proud for 90 minutes but Padraig Amond was determined to keep his sensational FA Cup goal scoring record going. The Irishman headed home thanks to a terrific cross from substitute George Nurse in stoppage time to send the Exiles into the third round of the competition.
Team: Townsend; O’Brien (Poleon 59’), Inniss, Howkins (Nurse 69’), Jefferies, Dolan, Sheehan, Haynes, Amond, Matt, Abrahams
Top scorer(s) in November:
Tristan Abrahams - 3
Taylor Maloney - 3