Another three points for Newport County, but Saturday’s 1-0 defeat of Braintree Town at Spytty Park was a truly forgettable affair.
Football had been put into perspective by the death of striker Craig Reid’s mother the day before the game and the sombre atmosphere around the club was reflected in a terrible game of football that didn’t deserve a goal to its credit, but Sam Foley pounced when it mattered and County are still sailing to the Blue Square South title.
A minute’s applause was held before kick-off but the supporters, over 2,000 of them, kept their hands well and truly buried in their pockets with absolutely no action of note in one of the poorest halves of football all season.
The dire state of the pitch was a major factor in the inability of both sides to string any meaningful possession together. Many wondered why the surface was so poor, given the last game County played on it was three weeks previous and it certainly hindered both sides, with Newport a complete shadow of the team that had scored 12 goals in their previous four matches.
The second-half brightened up only slightly. Paul Cochlin headed a corner towards the top corner which needed punching away by the Braintree goalkeeper and the visitor’s Reece Harris squandered a decent shooting opportunity wide from the top of the penalty area.
A classic goal for a terrible pitch broke the deadlock. Danny Rose was bundled over 15-yards inside the Braintree half close the visiting dugout. He took the resulting free kick and looped in a high delivery that no-one dealt with. After several attempted hacks at the ball, a chance opened up for Sam Foley who slotted away what proved to be the only goal of the game from four yards out.
Ashton Holgate nearly doubled County’s advantage with a header just over the bar before Braintree briefly threatened an equaliser with several crosses that caused a few nervy moments for the home fans but it was fitting that the best chances either side could create were long balls into the penalty area. A poor game but three more points for the Exiles.
By Alex Winter
Alex is a journalism student and edits the Gloucestershire cricket blog, The Shire Blog
