CAN WE START AGAIN PLEASE?
Yeltz 1 Newport 3
28 August 2000
I know my results in Anorak Corner only go back 6 years or so, but I really can't remember such a bad start to the season.
The latest disappointment was a 3-1 loss at The Grove to Newport. They took the lead just before half-time, and then got a second with 20 minutes to go. A goal from Woody promised a tree-men-dous comeback, but a late Newport third clinched all three points for the visitors, and left us in a very worrying 20th place . Not surprisingly, we've got the honour of being the league's lowest goal scorers with a mighty two. :-(
Saturday brings a long trip down to Weymouth , who've also had a pretty poor start. It's going to be a thriller.
Match Report from Dave Johnson
Halesowen Town: Quy; Wood, Hines, Comyn, Ford, Cartwright, Crisp, Mansell (Collins 65), Griffiths, Payne, Dodd (Piggott 65). Subs: Owen
Newport County: Mountain; Robison, Benton, Davies, Kemp, Thorne, Rose, Donovan, Hunt, Sheppard, Flynn (Bale 82). Subs: Beckett, James
Booked: Collins Referee: M. Forder (Hereford) Attendance: 532
Halesowen's dismal start to the season continued as they were well beaten by a lively Welsh outfit. Newport were quick off the mark with Garry Sheppard stabbing the ball just wide in the 5th minute before seeing his shot hit the post three minutes later when Andy Quy in the Halesowen goal failed to gather his shot cleanly. Halesowen were lacking penetration up front but Michael Griffiths did turn to fire a 15 yard shot at Pat Mountain in the 11th minute. Newport's pressure finally paid off in the 39th minute when Dave Hunt lashed home a right wing cross from Matt Rose from 12 yards out in front of a vociferous band of travelling fans.
Quy made two excellent blocking saves from Hunt and Sheppard as Newport continued to dominate the start of the second half and saved Halesowen's blushes again in the 63rd minute when Sheppard broke free of the home defence with Jason Donovan and Mike Flynn unable to turn the follow up home. Newport went two goals ahead in the 65th minute when Donovan broke through the heart of the Halesowen defence again but this time made no mistake when clear on goal.
Halesowen eventually pulled a goal back in the 82nd minute when a free kick from Les Hines was met by the head of Phil Wood at the far post. However, Newport made the points safe three minutes from time when Sheppard turned to drill the ball past Quy from 20 yards.