Lee Clarke fires in a shot on goal
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A Carl Wilson-Denis header on fifteen minutes condemned St Albans City to their seventh Nationwide South defeat of the season on Tuesday and ended Newport County’s barren run of three games without a goal and three successive defeats since the departure of manager Peter Nicholas.
In becoming the 12th visiting side in 22 league games at Clarence Park to keep a clean sheet during Steve Castle’s time as St Albans manager the Welsh club also succeeded in nudging the Saints to 21st in the table with only Welling United beneath them.
Seemingly unaffected by the walk-out of two players in the two days leading up to the game the Saints gave as hard working a performance as seen so far this season but their well known weakness in front of goal – they are the second lowest scorers in the Division – again proved to be their undoing. Although in fairness to the side under the temporary control of Glyn Jones it should be pointed out that Newport defended with great fortitude and were in no mood to be sucked into the relegation dogfight in which St Albans find themselves.
On a clear, dry evening both sides made an enterprising, after a couple of early Newport corners City threatened with good approach work by Ben Walshe and Matt Hann ending with a crisp drive by Dean Hooper which the former Swansea City custodian Roger Freestone gathered comfortably.
Newport created precious few goalscoring opportunities during the evening but made the decisive strike when former Welsh international Jason Bowen crossed from close to the goalline for Wilson-Denis to head downwards to Mel Capleton’s left and into the Hatfield Road goal.
St Albans held the upper hand for the remainder of the half but were thankful to Capleton for a marvellous reflex action save to beat out a well directed volley by Jonathan Coates following another Bowen cross, City also had a let off when Capleton lost possession wide of his penalty area but fortunately Hooper covered the goal and cleared Wilson-Denis’s cross-shot.
Despite the occasional flash of inspiration from Walshe City failed to really stretch the veteran Freestone although the keeper did pull off one outstanding save to deny Walshe after Matt Hann, Lloyd Opara and Lee Clark had combined to open up the visitors. The industrious Hann also had a soft effort easily saved while Hooper fired wide after a neat exchange with Ram Marwa.
After the break the Saints continued to enjoy the lions share of the play but Newport, often opting for safety in numbers, seldom looked like surrendering their lead as Freestone again had few direct shots to deal with. Marwa curled a free kick narrowly wide, Clarke had a long-range header collected by the keeper while Opara also headed over the target after excellent work by Hooper.
The Saints best hope of snatching a point appeared to come from a dead ball situation. Twice Castle, who picked up his second yellow card in four days, stepped up to do the needful after free kicks had been won in ideal positions but neither effort troubled the keeper. City threw their former Youth striker David Parkinson on for his debut for the final 17 minutes and it was a tough baptism for the gifted though unpredictable youngster as the game became ever more frantic.
Newport could have made their first away win of the season more emphatic on a couple of occasions but after Neil Passmore had broken through Miguel De Souza, who gave a sound performance alongside Chris Zoricich, robbed him with a tremendous tackle while in added time Wilson-Denis shot weakly through to Capleton after getting clear of De Souza.
Report by Dave Tavener |
