NEWPORT COUNTY AFC 2016/17

MAJESTIC COUNTY HAMMER FOREST GREEN

Oct 14 - Newport County disposed of Forest Green 4-0 in front of 915 travelling fans at Forest Green. The Exiles outplayed their opponents. Padraig Amond struck twice bringing his season's total to five. The striker claimed his first from Scott Bennett's flick-on, before tapping in after Frank Nouble's shot was well saved by Sam Russell. Bennett added a third goal when Ben Tozer's long throw in fell kindly. Sub Shawn McClousky added a late header from Dan Butler's cross, a result that took County in to the play off places and dropped Rovers into the bottom two.

Newport County went down 2-1 in their midweek EFL Trophy clash with Swansea under 21s. Port Vale’s League Two game at Newport County has been moved forward a day to Friday November 10 (7.45pm) to avoid a clash with a rugby international the following day. The Valiants were due to be at Newport on Saturday November 11 but that clashes with the international between Wales and Australia in Cardiff. So, Vale and the Exiles have agreed to move the game and the fixture switch has also been approved by the Football League.

COUNTY OUTPLAY YEOVIL IN COMFORTABLE VICTORY

Oct 7 - Newport County outplayed Yeovil Town to complete a convincing 2-0 victory and confirm their outstanding home form in the 2017/18 campaign. The Exiles have conceded one goal in five home games to date. Josh Labadie scooping a shot over from six yards before Padraig Amond headed home a corner just before half-time. Man of the match Labadie hit the cross bar before he finally headed home a corner on 55 minutes. Yeovil rarely threatened but Olufela Olomola hit the post after 88 minutes. The crowd was an impressive 3,689 reflecting the slight increase in attendances at Rodney Parade thus far. Newport boss Mike Flynn told BBC Radio Wales: "The boys were outstanding, they played some good football. They moved the ball around well, defended well and closed down well and the only disappointment was that we did not score more goals."

COUNTY CHAIRMAN RESIGNS

Oct 1 - Newport County Chairman Malcolm Temple has resigned. The club have issued a statement "Newport County AFC wishes to inform its Owners and Shareholders that the current Chairman of Newport County AFC Supporters’ Trust Malcolm Temple has submitted his resignation to the Board which was accepted at last night’s Board Meeting.

The resignation covers Malcolm’s role as both Chairman of the Supporters Trust and as a Director of Newport County AFC. The Directors wish to take the opportunity to thank Malcolm for his time and work as Chairman in recent years which has seen him help with the procurement of the Club by the Trust. "

LUTON BEAT COUNTY WITH FIRST HALF BLITZ

Oct 1 - Luton put in a powerful first half performance to see off Newport County. Danny Hylton's double Alan Sheehan's left-footed free kick gave the Hatters a three goal margin after thirty five minutes. Hylton struck from close range before adding his second from the penalty spot after Ben Tozer's handball. Newport captain Joss Labadie's scored a second half volley to make it 3-1 in a much improved second half display.

HEADED BRACE BRINGS VICTORY FOR EXILES

Sep 28 - Two headed goals by defender Mickey Demetriou saw Newport County back into the promotion play offs as they won at Crawley Town in League Two. The goals came from set pieces in the 40th and 51st minute. Crawley's Mark Connolly opened the scoring on the half hour for the home side.

AMOND POACHES GOAL TO SEAL VICTORY

Sep 24 - A poachers goal on 63 minutes from Padraig Amond gave Newport a deserved win over Grimsby having dominated the match at Rodney Parade. The Exiles had numerous attempts on goal with shots from Amond and Labadie cleared off the line. A late rally from Grimsby saw Diallang Jaiyesimi's shot saved by Joe Day. County go eighth.

FLYNN LAMBASTS TEAM FOR 'SPINELESS' PERFORMANCE

Sep 17 - "It was very disappointing. That's not a performance I like to be associated with. It was gutless, it was spineless and I've told the players that. I'm the first one to give them credit, but today it was a terrible, terrible performance." Michael Flynn's words to BBC Wales at the conclusion of Newport's defeat by 2-1 at Morecambe. Flynn watched as County's bete noire Kevin Ellison produced two goals to beat the Exiles. Kevin Ellison as their familiar nemesis again proved their downfall. He put the Shrimps in front after 34 minutes although Scott Bennett swiftly equalised for the Port. But with 10 minutes to play it was Ellison who deflected home Adam Campbell's shot. County have dropped to ninth in the table.

COUNTY EDGE OUT CHELTENHAM IN MONSOON

Sep 14 - Newport produced the only goal in a match played in relentless heavy rain at Rodney Parade. Padraig Amond's flicked in Matty Dolan's corner in a first half dominated by County. However, Cheltenham almost levelled when Kyle Storer's header was cleared off the line with Joe Day beaten. Day was also in action late in the game to deny the same player.

STALEMATE AT RODNEY PARADE

Sep 10 - Newport and Wycombe played out a frustrating stalemate at Rodney Parade yesterday. The Exiles had a couple of good chances through Padraig Amond but both goalkeepers were on fine form in front of 3752 fans. Newport had 14 shots on goal, five were on target. Mike Flynn told the BBC "I am frustrated because in the first half we had enough chances to win three football matches. We started brightly in the second half as well, but then Wycombe were by far the better team and pinned us in. By the end, we are probably grateful that we didn't lose. We kept a clean sheet and there are some positives... we are moving in the right direction."

COUNTY GO DOWN AT EXETER

Sep 3 - Newport County's unbeaten League start to the season came to an end at League leaders Exeter. The Exiles were dominant in the first half and had a goal disallowed but Lee Holmes' fine strike half way through the second half was all that separated them. Padraig Amond had several chances for Newport before Exeter's Jake Taylor had opportunities of his own. Midfielder Holmes cut in from the right and curled a fine shot into the bottom corner with 57 minutes played at St James Park.

Newport County manager Mike Flynn told BBC Radio Wales: "It was a massive decision by the referee (John Brooks) in the first half to disallow a goal, there was nothing wrong with it. Then we go and gift them a goal near enough by not putting the ball out of play, so I'm really frustrated. We took the game to them today and I just feel we missed too many chances first half."

NOUBLE HAT-TRICK MARKS EXILES HOMECOMING

Aug 26 - Newport County turned in a superb second half performance to beat Chesterfield by four goals to one. The homecoming to Rodney Parade was marked by a fantastic hat trick for forward Frank Nouble.

Nouble started his goal surge with a stunning thirty metre strike just before the hour. Within twelve minutes he had completed his hat trick with two headed goals and Chesterfield were out of the game. The period of play was in stark contrast to a first half in which Chesterfield were the better team and took a deserved lead after Scott Wiseman capitalised on a Nouble stumble to send a sharp cross through for Chris O'Grady to score.

Manager Mike Flynn kept Newport in the changing rooms at half time as the Chesterfield team waited to start the second half clearly to get the message across to his players. They responded in kind in front of a good crowd. To cap it all Nouble set up strike partner and debutant Padraig Amond for his first goal on 82 minutes.

Flynn commented to BBC Wales "We started slowly but the boys responded brilliantly, we had a chat at half-time - they were causing us a few problems... so we matched them up and we were outstanding then. As afternoons go it was brilliant, the only downside was one of their players had an injury and it looked a bad one [Chesterfield defender Bradley Barry was taken off on a stretcher after 22 minutes]. I hope he's okay."

County are second, two points behind next week's opponents, Exeter

1200 SEASON TICKETS FOR EXILES

Aug 26 - Newport start their season at home with over 1200 season ticket holders according to latest information - a 67 per cent increase on last season. They face Chesterfield on the new Rodney Parade surface this afternoon.

COUNTY SIGN POOLS STRIKER

Aug 23 - Newport County have signed Hartlepool United striker Padraig Amond tonight for an undisclosed fee. The striker has scored 45 goals in 90 League Two games and will face Chesterfield on Saturday.

NEWPORT FALL TO LEEDS BUT PLAYERS AND FANS GAIN PLAUDITS

Aug 23 - 631 fans and a hard working, attacking team won Newport enormous credit at Leeds before succumbing to the heavy armoury of their Championship opponents. County came out all guns blazing and thoroughly deserved their lead on 33 minutes when Josh Labadie's shot was parried in to his own net by Leeds keeper Rob Green. A brace of goals from Kemar Roofe either side of half time turned the game before he added a third decisive goal with a 65th minute bicycle kick. Saiz and Veira made it 5-1 with the game won.

EXILES WIN AT RICOH

Aug 19 - Newport County beat unbeaten Coventry City to secure their first win of the season. On their first ever visit to the Ricoh Arena, a second half goal from Reece Cole proved enough for Mike Flynn's side. On-loan Brentford midfielder Cole's speculative effort was spilled by Coventry goalkeeper Liam O'Brien as the hosts conceded for the first time this season after successive wins. 909 away fans watched the game.

COUNTY FAIL TO CAPITALISE AGAINST DEPLETED OPPONENTS

Aug 13 - Michael Flynn expressed his frustration as Newport failed to sink 10 man Crewe yesterday . Frank Nouble put Newport ahead when he tapped in after Joss Labadie's shot was saved by Crewe goalkeeper Ben Garratt.
Perry Ng earned a second yellow for a dangerous tackle. But a minute after the dismissal Crewe got themselves back on level terms, when Chris Dagnall converted George Cooper's low cross from the byline.
County manager Flynn told BBC Wales Sport: "It was very frustrating... we created enough chances to win two or three matches, but also weren't very switched on with the counter-attack against us.

COUNTY TO FACE LEEDS AFTER FINE WIN AT SOUTHEND

Aug 10 - Newport County will face Leeds United at Elland Road in the next round of the EFL Cup after a fine win at Roots Hall. Shawn McCoulsky's brace gave the Exiles a shock EFL Cup first round win over League One side Southend United in front of 130 travelling fans. The summer loan signing from Bristol City's goals came in six second-half minutes. County will receive 45 per cent of the net gate takings, Leeds had a crowd of 15,000 for their opening round fixture against Port Vale.

The only meaningful fixture between Leeds and Newport was on 8 January 1949 when the Ironsides won a Cup tie at Elland Road by 3-1. It even led to Harry Williams a County player transferring to Leeds later that year. This is from the 'Mighty Leeds' website "He first came to the attention of Leeds United when he roasted them in an FA Cup-tie as a Newport player in January 1949. The Welsh minnows pulled off a shock 3-1 win at Elland Road, inspired by Williams, who had been up in the early hours of the day to complete his milkround before travelling to Leeds. Major Buckley paid £12,000 for him in July 1949 which was quite a high fee at the time."

PROMISING BRENTFORD YOUNGSTER AGREES EXILES LOAN DEAL

Aug 9 - Promising Brentford player Reece Cole has signed a loan deal with County. The 19-year old midfielder has learned his craft came through Brentford’s academy and signed a pro-deal in 2016. In 2017, after impressing in Brentford’s B Team getting 6 goals in 24 appearances, he got his place in Brentford’s first team squad and made his debut in the team’s victory over Nottingham Forest. In April 2017, he signed a three-year extension keeping him at the club until 2020.
Reece hopes his loan move will allow him to get “more league football under my belt”.
Reece said “The gaffer really sold Newport County AFC to me. He said he was going to be playing youth and there's obviously a few experienced pro's in here as well so hopefully it will be a good mixture."

DRAMATIC COMEBACK SEALS POINT AT STEVENAGE

Aug 7 - Newport County started the League Two season where they ended the last with a last gasp goal, this time to seal a point in a dramatic 3-3 draw at Stevenage. The Exiles scored twice in the final 15 minutes from 3-1 down, with sub Shawn McCoulsky equalising in the fifth minute of injury time. The hosts held the advantage when Tom Pett scored, but Frank Nouble levelled.
Dale Gorman's penalty and a goal from Danny Newton put Stevenage in charge, but Mickey Demetriou gave the Exiles late hope with a stunning 25-yard strike before McCoulsky's late goal.

In addition to negotiating possible additions to the squad Justin has also been finalising pre-season with the remaining dates scheduled for fixtures due to be confirmed early next week.