This Tuesday, we welcome Forest Green Rovers to Rodney Parade in what is our first reverse fixture of the season. To get fans in the mood for what promises to be an exciting encounter, we’ve decided to take a look back at our trip to the Cotswolds earlier in the season.
After losing on the road to Accrington Stanley and Crewe in our opening two away games, Newport’s travelling contingent was on the hunt for their first away points of the season.
Things couldn’t have got off to a better start for Newport. It was unlucky number 13 for the hosts, with Will Evans hitting the back of the net to give us the lead thirteen seconds into the match. Our quickest goal of the season so far, and it’s one that it is difficult to imagine we will top.
A long ball over the top from Forest Green was headed with force back up the pitch from skipper Ryan Delaney, catching the Forest Green defence unaware, with Will Evans running through and slotting past an oncoming Luke Daniels in the Forest Green goal. Our top scorer put the ball past him with ease, getting the away day off to a perfect start.
The hosts were struggling to gain momentum, and we came close to doubling our lead on two occasions in the opening 20. Harry Charsley met a corner at the back post and narrowly hit the ball wide.
Evans then intercepted a misplaced pass from Daniels and nearly doubled his tally, only for the keeper to recover and make a save.
Daniels wouldn’t be so lucky in the 24th minute, though. Another long ball from Delaney found Evans racing through down the right. He calmly rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into the open net to give us put us two to the good.
It was all one-way traffic from here, with our high press and the presence of the ever-dangerous Seb Palmer-Houlden continued to give a shaky Forest Green defence. A series of half-chances nearly tripled our lead, and the pressure continued to mount.
The host’s defence crumbled again in the 86th minute. Nathan Wood played in a cross which was blocked by the hand of James Robson, leaving the ref with no choice but to award a penalty.
With Will Evans on a hat trick, our number 7 selflessly stepped aside and allowed Adam Lewis to take the penalty. The Liverpool loanee cooly stepped up and converted, making it 3-0 and sending us back across the border with all three points in the bag.
You can secure your tickets for our upcoming Boxing Day clash with Forest Green Rovers by clicking HERE.