MATCH REPORT: Newport County 3-3 Oldham Athletic

Newport and Oldham played out an entertaining draw at Rodney Parade.

Ryan Haynes, Dom Telford and Mickey Demetriou all found the back of the net for County while Mike Fondop netted a brace for Oldham after Davis Keillor-Dunn's effort.

Newport stated their intentions right from the off as, straight from kick-off, County worked the ball forward to Oli Cooper who struck just wide of the left-hand post from the edge of the box after just seven seconds.

County kept up that pressure early on as Courtney Baker-Richardson headed across goal and wide from Cameron Norman's right-sided cross in the third minute.

The Exiles didn't have to wait much longer for the breakthrough though as Haynes' cross from the left went all the way into the back of the net on 14 minutes to give the hosts the lead. 

Scot Bennett had a go from fully 35 yards after the ball fell kindly to him, but his strike was gathered by Danny Rogers in the Oldham goal. Shortly after, Telford tested his range by curling narrowly over the bar from the edge of the box.

It was then Oldham's turn to find their range as Davis Keillor-Dunn struck narrowly wide of the left-hand post from the right of the box and two minutes later he made it 1-1 with a strike into the bottom corner.

Newport responded with Finn Azaz curling just over the top from 20 yards before Matt Dolan had a half-volley from distance punched behind by Rogers for a corner.

Who else but Telford put Newport back into the lead with a fierce effort from just inside the area which beat Rogers for power and pace to sail past him and into the left of the net.

To close the half, Baker-Richardson, for a second time, headed across goal and wide to connect with a Norman cross from the right.

Oldham had the first notable chance of the second half as Jordan Clarke curled narrowly wide of the left-hand post from the right of the County area.

Mike Fondop then levelled proceedings by heading home a corner from the right for 2-2 in the 49th minute.

Cooper came close to giving County a third lead but his shot after a fine Newport move was kept out by Rogers.

Sam Hart of Oldham brought out a decent save from Nick Townsend with a shot from distance, with Townsend diverting it behind for a corner which Newport cleared.

Oldham were reduced to 10 men on 69 minutes when Bahamboula was shown a straight red card for a two-footed lunge on Dolan.

In the 72nd minute, Oldham required luck and brilliance to keep the score level. Telford hit the right-hand post and seconds later Cooper had a header brilliantly saved by Rogers from Haynes' cross.

With eight minutes remaining, Fondop got his second and Oldham's third by slamming in a low left-sided cross into the net from close range.

Demetriou scored a wonderful third for Newport though to make it 3-3 in the 89th minute. He fired in a superb, swerving effort from the edge of the box into the top left corner to earn Newport a point at Rodney Parade.

Newport County: Nick Townsend, Cameron Norman (James Waite '83), Josh Pask, Mickey Demetriou, Ryan Haynes, Scot Bennett (Robbie Willmott '58), Finn Azaz, Matt Dolan (C), Oliver Cooper, Dom Telford, Courtney Baker-Richardson (Rob Street '90)

Subs not used: Joe Day, James Clarke, Alex Fisher, Jake Cain

Oldham Athletic: Danny Rogers, Jordan Clarke, Sam Hart, Harrison McGahey, Carl Piergianni (C), Nicky Adams (Jack Stobbs '78), Callum Whelan, Davis Keillor-Dunn, Dylan Bahamboula, Christopher Missilou, Junior Luamba (Mike Fondop '45)

Subs not used: Jayson Leutwiler, Benny Coutto, Alex Hunt, Tope Obadeyi, Harry Vaughan

 

Thank you to our match sponsor Seren Fach.