County undone by later winner

Report by Mark Vickery from Rodney Parade

Newport County 2(Compton 18, Labadie 78)

Mansfield Town 3(Green 12, Rose 66, Hurst 90+3)

Attendance: 2,790

Form:

Newport County

Mansfield Town

PRE-MATCH THOUGHTS
 Pitch looks in excellent condition as summer repair work

CONDITIONS
 Warm, sunny, slight breeze and pitch conducive to good football

SUMMING UP OUR PERFORMANCE IN ONE STATEMENT
 Enterprising on set pieces but moments of lax defending proved costly.

TURNING POINT
 None to note

THE MATCH
 County manager Warren Feeney had brought in several new faces during the close season with only keeper Joe Day remaining from the last game against Notts County. Central defender Scot Bennett who had spent time on loan last season was named as captain partnering ex-Eastleigh centre back Jamie Turley. County introduced another former loan player signed from Cardiff, right back Jazzi Barnum Bobb with ex-Torquay Dan Butler left back. County played a four man midfield with Jennison Myrie-Williams left wing and former Yeovil Town Jack Compton playing right side, despite being more accustomed to using his left foot. Former Dagenham central midfielder Joss Labadie played just in front of ex-Barnet and Arsenal product Mark Randall. County had a brand new forward partnership with ex-AFC Wimbledon player Sean Rigg alongside Marlon Jackson. The early stages were keen fought with both sides offering plenty of tempo to their game and positive going forward. On 5 minutes, County had a decent situation from the left side of the area but Butler was clipped by Rose. Randall swept in a decent delivery which Turley was stretching for and his header from 8 yards went over the bar. Mansfield were keen to test County with some quick kick outs from keeper Shearer to the right side of the pitch to test left back Butler. Mansfield had some joy with this tact with County struggling to clear their lines effectively but when they did distribute well both Rigg and Jackson were looking lively on the break. On 11 minutes, a direct ball by County was controlled well by Rigg who turned a defender well before blasting a decent volley from 25 yards which clipped the top of the bar. Mansfield continued to work the channels well with some efficient use of the ball and took the lead on 12 minutes from a swift move down the left channel. Hurst was able to pick a hole with an untracked run down the left side of the area and delivered a pinpoint cross into the area which Green headed home unmarked past day from 10 yards. Mansfield were boosted by the goal and continued to look for gaps using the pace of Green and industry of Hurst to unsettle the County defence. On 15 minutes, County had a let off when a free kick on the right side was poked home by Green but chalked off for offside. County kept probing away with some decent moves down the middle and a piercing move involving Randall and Compton enticed Rose into late challenge. From the resultant free kick Compton showed his prowess again from free kicks curling a precise effort into the left corner from 20 yards. County were energised by the goal and settled into a better spell offering more cohesion. Mansfield were forced to deal with a series of crosses by County which were cleared by their towering central defenders. County gained a couple of corners from their pressure with Shearer needing treatment for heavy fall when claiming the ball as County continued to ask questions. On 30 minutes, Taft gave away a free kick on the left side of the box after nervously handling the ball. Compton was close with his curling effort going just wide of the left post and bar. The game became scrappy for a time with Mansfield trying reassert their authority with some physical challenges that went unpunished. On the stroke of half time Mansfield went close with a couple of ambitious shots from distance that failed to trouble County keeper Joe Day. In injury time, County responded with a better spell forcing some corners which were delivered well by Compton but Mansfield were able to clear effectively.

Mansfield came out strongly at the start of the second half with more purpose and drive to maintain possession. County were forced deep and struggled to clear their lines with Jackson and Rigg doing their best offer and outlet but the ball was being prised away too easily. Mansfield created a good situation on 55 minutes after County lost the ball cheaply in midfield and Rose found Green with a good pass down the right side of the area. Butler appeared to have covered the move but Green managed to find space for a dangerous low cross which was cleared well by Bennett for a corner. Mansfield kept plugging away with Hurst proving to be a nuisance with aerial threat and running off the ball to close down County defenders. Mansfield were rewarded with a few corners which County marshalled well and Chapman flirted with goal with a low shot from 20 yards being blocked well by Labadie. County responded with a couple of decent moves down the left flank involving Myrie-Williams who had the pace to get beyond right back Bennett. From a left sided corner on 62 minutes by Compton, County went close with Bennett seeing his header saved at the front post by Shearer. On 63 minutes, a bright move by County exploited space down the middle and Compton thrashed a low effort just wide of the right post from 25 yards. County were caught out on 66 minutes having pushed on down the left flank, Bennett got tight on Jackson not allowing him space to turn and Collins was able to pick a pass to thread a low pass for Rose. He cut inside the area evading Butler before driving a low shot into the left corner from 12 yards. Mansfield made a change straight after with Chapman being replaced central defender Howkins. Mansfield continued to use the channels well with the full backs prepared to push on and with County committed there were holes in behind. Labadie was booked on 71 minutes for an untidy challenge on Clements when he was the wrong side of the man. County made a change soon after with ex-Northampton and Yeovil midfielder Ben Tozer coming on for Myrie-Williams. Compton went over to the left channel with Randall pushing further forward in support. Mansfield continued to look the more threatening and were denied by a fantastic save by Joe Day on 76 minutes. The move came from another County move that broke down and quick pass to the right side found Rose. His cross pinpointed Green inside the six yard area but the County keeper made a superb reflex save to party the ball to safety. County were awarded a free kick on the left side of the area on 78 minutes after Compton had been caught late by Bennett. Randall swept in an excellent delivery to the back post and Labadie anticipated well to turn the ball home. Mansfield then responded with another change in midfield with Hemmings replacing Rose and soon after Hoban for Green up top. County struggled to gain a foothold in the final stages of the game with Mansfield stronger in possession as they pressed for winner. County had a decent chance on 90 minutes when a cross into the area gave an opportunity for Rigg but his header was directed well wide of the mark. Mansfield continued to use the left flank well with Hurst still offering plenty of running and enterprise. Randall was booked in injury time for a late challenge on Clements as Mansfield maintained their grip. It paid dividends in the third minute of injury time when Hurst was allowed for too much room to manoeuvre and cut inside away from Barnum Bobb. Nothing much looked on but his curling effort appeared to catch on the wind and deceive County keeper Joe Day as it dropped into the top right corner. County made efforts to respond with little time on the clock but Mansfield held on for a deserved win.

Day (6) — struggled with some kicks, handling was generally good and made a couple of important saves but should have done better possibly on the winner 
 Barnum Bobb (6) — was put under some pressure second half and saw little of him inside the Mansfield half. Should have shown Hurst outside with late goal

Butler (5) — targeted in the air was made to look vulnerable on times with some weak clearances. Made efforts to push on but let down not getting tight enough

Bennett (7) — read the game well and battled on well after breaking his nose. Generally cleared effectively and used his head

Turley (6) — solid enough in the air and was robust with his challenges but got caught out a couple of times with ball in behind. Distribution needs to be better

Randall (6) — forced to play far too deep on times, worked hard and showed glimpses of quality with some neat passes and set pieces

Labadie (6) — was competitive and prepared for a tackle but generally didn’t influence game enough. Took his chance well though 
 Myrie-Williams (5) — when he met the byline and burst forward he created anxiety but didn’t do enough and his tracking back was poor leaving Butler exposed 
 Compton (8) — excellent debut, worked hard up and down the channel and after switching sides was even more threat. Took goal well and decent with set pieces

Rigg (7) — when he got on the ball he was effective and looked most capable of scoring. Neat touch and awareness but needed more runners off him

Jackson (6) — played back to goals as a target man but found life difficult against tall Mansfield defenders. Restricted on chances and faded late on.

SWOT ANALYSIS OPPONENTS
 Strengths — centre backs dominated in the air, pressed well as a team and used channels well. Front pairing worked hard to unsettle County and took chances well

Weaknesses — full backs were less convincing and gave away free kicks cheaply when County did protect the ball. Opted for long ball for large parts of the game

Opportunities — went direct for much of the first half with balls to flanks. Changed tact to pass more after the break and use the left flank which paid dividends
 Threats — Hurst was decent in the air, good crossing and Green had pace to unsettle with his runs. Rose and Clements supported well and prepared to shoot.

OFFICIALS
 Robert Jones (6) — got taken in by several challenges which were not fouls and generally lax but consistent in this approach

MAN OF THE MATCH
 Kevan Hurst (Mansfield 14) — looks a decent signing for them, energy to burn, unselfish, at the heart of two of the goals, worked hard on and off the ball.

IF YOU WERE WARREN FEENEY WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

County are still finding their feet and a new side will take time bed in. Despite the harsh nature of conceding late, Mansfield deserved their result and looked sharper for large parts of the game. County have again not had the stiffest pre-season schedule and Mansfield looked a couple of games ahead in mind and body. Having said that, there were several positives for County with their industry and invention getting men into the box. County scored from two set pieces today and this was something they struggled with all last season with the execution much better. Warren Feeney will be concerned with the goals being conceded though because both full backs were short of the standard today with the 442 formation not entirely working in their favour. County left their full backs exposed several times and this was even more evident when Compton switched to the left side late on in the game with Barnum Bobb being put under a lot of pressure late in the game with no natural right sided winger. County looked tired in the final stages and should really have made late substitutions to slow the game down with Mansfield pressing for a winner. Rigg and Jackson did well in spells but it could not be maintained and they should really have been replaced but County had no option from the bench so it will be imperative to bring in a striker in the next week.