Newport fell to their first home defeat of the season in what was a difficult afternoon at Rodney Parade.
County started well, with early pressure being applied. A nice sequence of play between McLoughlin, Wildig, and Evans in the opening minutes got the crowd on their feet, but Bradford’s Brad Halliday denied us a clear opportunity.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Rayhann Tulloch found space on the left-hand side of the box and teed up Andy Cook.
Tulloch turned scorer in the 26th minute when McDonald played a ball from the right for him to tap home and grab the visitor’s second.
The Bantmans continued to pile the pressure, and a long ball from Harry Lewis found Andy Cook, who slotted past Townsend for his second of the afternoon in the 29th minute.
Despite a tough opening 30 minutes, heads did not drop, and County’s perseverance was rewarded with a goal in the 35th minute. James Waite slotted a nice ball in behind the Bradford defence, with Omar Bogle expertly rounding Lewis and tapping into an empty net.
James Waite came close to pulling another back before half-time. Some nice link-up play with Wildig saw him drive the ball marginally wide with an effort from just outside the box.
Half time
County had a tough task ahead of them in the second half, and the opening fifteen minutes proved to be a cagey affair. The Exiles had spells of possession in the Bradford half but could not turn them into any clear chances, with the Bantams holding steady at the back.
Graham Coughlan went to his bench in the 61st minute, with Matty Bondswell and Olly Thomas coming on for Aaron Wildig and James Waite.
Bondswell made his presence felt, instantly forcing a corner in front of the home fans. This led to back-to-back corners, but the visitors held their ground.
County made their third substitution of the afternoon when James Clarke went down following a clearance. James Seberry replaced the defender.
Our best chance of the half fell to Matty Bondswell following a dangerous ball whipped across the box from Olly Thomas. The on-loan Newcastle star couldn’t make the connection required to pull us back into the game.
Andy Cook secured the win for the visitors in the 91st minute, with the striker heading the ball into the bottom corner in front of the visiting supporters to seal his hat-trick.
County kept fighting, though and went in search of a late consolation. Olly Thomas teed up Bryn Morris on the edge of the box, but the resulting effort went over the bar.
Full-time
Newport County: Townsend, Lewis, Clarke (Seberry 74’), Drysdale, Evans, Morris, Bogle, Waite (Thomas 62’), Bennett, McLoughlin, Wildig (Bondswell 62’) Subs: Maxted, Payne, Rai Thomas, Wood, Bondswell, Seberry
Bradford City: Lewis, Halliday, Ridehalgh, Platt, Walker (Oyegoke 81’), Cook, Gilliead, Odour (Osadebe 65’), Stubbs, McDonald (Smallwood 87’), Tulloch (Smith 86’) Subs: Doyle, Smallwood, Osadebe, Smith, Oyegoke, Pointon, Afoka
Attendance: 4,087 (411 away)