Another irresistible first-half performance from Newport County bagged another three points at Worcester City on Monday night.
Worcester had performed well at Spytty Park on New Year’s Day, losing to a late Sam Foley strike, but this was a completely different affair with Newport continuing their goalscoring frenzy.
After just eight minutes County went ahead through Craig Reid. Jamie Collins drifted in a long free-kick which Paul Cochlin did wonderfully well to flick towards goal, and when Worcester goalkeeper, Jake Meredith, could only parry the effort, Reid was on hand to tap home in-front of a packed terrace where the Newport fans had massed.
Chris Todd then provided the second with his first goal for County, heading in a free-kick which he had won on the left-hand edge of the penalty area. Kerry Morgan whipped in the cross for Todd’s powerfull back post finish.
Another set-piece produced Todd’s second and County’s third. Danny Rose swung in a free-kick from the right touchline and Todd rose to flick home into the corner of the net. County were running riot again.
A humiliating opening period for the home side was completed when Reid turned and played a ball for Foley to chase; he beat the onrushing goalkeeper with a deft flick which rolled into the net for County’s fourth.
Things were made even worse for Worcester when Shabir Kahn managed to repeat his efforts in the reserve fixture and was sent off again. An horrendous foul on Kerry Morgan, Kahn scything the Newport winger down, received a deserved straight red card.
Dean Holdsworth has predicted his side will put seven past a team soon but they will need to perform more consistently throughout an entire match to do so. For the second game in succession, County created little in the second-half and a drab 45-minutes was only livened up by a mistake between the Newport centre backs which allowed Matt Dinsmore to sneak through and poke home a consolation for Worcester.
By Alex Winter
Alex is a journalism student and edits the Gloucestershire cricket blog, The Shire Blog
