MATCH REPORT: Newport County 1-2 Stockport County

Newport slipped to defeat at home to Stockport County this afternoon.

Aaron Lewis gave County the lead in first-half stoppage time, but Stockport completed a second-half turnaround with goals from Chris Hussey and Paddy Madden.

Our first chance came in the sixth minute with one of our ever-dangerous throw-ins as Mickey Demetriou launched one in from the right, Cameron Norman flicked it on and Omar Bogle's side-foot volley was deflected wide.

Declan Drysdale came close with a header soon after, as his nodded effort was impressively tipped over the bar by Ben Hinchcliffe after Aaron Lewis' cross from the left. 

Stockport's first attempt came from their skipper, Paddy Madden, but he headed a crossed free-kick from the right over the bar. Soon after, Antoni Sarcevic struck wide from inside the area.

County came close with another throw-in shorly before the break with Norman knocking on another Demetriou delivery with Drysdale there to head it into the arms of Hinchcliffe.

We did break the deadlock in first-half stoppage time though when Aaron Lewis slid Bogle's low ball across the box for his second goal in consecutive weekends. 

Stockport started the second half strongly though, with their opening gambit being Ryan Croasdale striking an inviting rolling ball high and wide from the edge of the area.

Joe Day was then needed to make a decent diving save down to his left to deny Myles Hippolyte before a rebound was blocked and cleared by Newport. 

They didn't have to wait long for their leveller, although it did come in unusual circumstances as Hussey's free-kick from the right looped over everyone and into the back of the County goal.

Croasdale had another drive from distance soon after, but that was far too high and it sailed over Day's bar. 

We had a good chance on the hour mark though as a counter-attack that started in our half ended with James Waite running half the length of the pitch with the ball before teeing up Will Evans who curled over from the right of the box. 

Madden got a good opening for the Hatters 20 minutes from time but he got it all wrong and sliced over the bar after being picked out by Hippolyte. 

He made amends in the 74th minute though after finding space in an acute angle on the left of the box to slot home for 1-2. 

Norman came close to levelling matters in the final minutes when he brought down a long ball, cruised past a Stockport defender, but his shot was too high and it went over the bar. 

Stockport could've made it 3-1 in the 84th minute though as Madden broke with pace, knocked it out right to Will Collar who crossed back to Madden who headed against the bar. 

County would have two last chances in second-half stoppage time but Evans and Scot Bennett were both denied by Hinchcliffe in the closing stages.

Newport County: Joe Day, Declan Drysdale, Priestley Farquharson, Mickey Demetriou (C) (Lewis Collins '79), Cameron Norman, Aaron Lewis (Thierry Nevers '90), Scot Bennett, Nathan Moriah-Welsh (Matt Dolan '70), James Waite (Robbie Willmott '79), Omar Bogle, Will Evans

Subs not used: Nick Townsend, Adam Lewis, Chanka Zimba

Stockport County: Ben Hinchcliffe, Macauley Southam-Hales (Ryan Johnson '81), Akil Wright, Fraser Horsfall, Paddy Madden (C), Antoni Sarcevic (Joe Lewis '81), Will Collar, Ryan Croasdale, Kyle Wootton, Myles Hippolyte, Chris Hussey

Subs not used: Bobby Jones, Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, Ollie Crankshaw, James Brown, Callum Macdonald