Newport County fans were left frustrated that they could not break down ten-man Hartlepool United. Referee Andy Haines, who in 2013 sent off then Newport winger Robbie Willmott after a minute, gave Newport the advantage when he sent off Hartlepool’s Toto Nsiala after three minutes.
The Exiles were without manager Warren Feeney and First Team Coach Sean McCarthy. Both sat in the stand after received suspensions for their part in the 2-1 loss at Luton Town. With this it fell to Newport’s assistant manager Andy Todd to take charge from the dugout.
10-Man Hartlepool hold Newport
First Half, 1-25 minutes
Before the match, Hartlepool manager Craig Hignett mentioned that he was looking for his side to put four past Newport County. With only 95 seconds on the clock he would have thought that Hartlepool would achieve this. Nathan Thomas’s chip over the Newport defence fell sweetly for Nicky Featherstone who scored on the half volley.
However, while many home fans were still celebrating the quick start, their joy turned to despair as referee Andy Haines gave Newport a free kick on the edge of the Hartlepool area and sent off Toto Nsiala for a deliberate handball. County’s Sean Rigg stepped up and slotted the free kick into the bottom corner and drew Newport level.
Even though being a man down, Hartlepool still looked to boss the game. They almost retook the lead on 16 minutes but for Butler deflecting a shot onto the crossbar and out for a corner. Moments later Lewis Alessandra saw his shot beat Newport goalkeeper Joe Day but fall just wide of the post.
First Half, 26-45 minutes
A moment of magic saw Newport take the lead on 27 minutes. County’s beast Jon Parkin scored a beauty. Managing to control the ball with his chest he hit a screamer from 25 yards. Hartlepool ‘keeper Trevor Carson got a touch but not enough as the ball hit the inside of the post and fell into the net. The goal was so special that even Hartlepool fans clapped their appreciation.
Marlon Jackson almost gave Newport a 3-1 lead soon after, digging out some room on the edge of the area. But his shot went just wide of the left-hand post.
Soon after, on 38 minutes Hartlepool drew level. Padraig Amond found space inside the box after losing his marker and headed home from a corner for 2-2
Second Half, 45-70
Hartlepool started quicker after the interval and almost took the lead five minutes into the second half. Nathan Thomas directed a header goalward, only to see Joe Day claim the ball after it crashed against the crossbar. Soon after Newport made their first change; Jack Compton receiving a ‘friendly’ reception when he came on for Jennison Myrie-Williams. Compton had been at Hartlepool between 2013 and 2015.
Hartlepool were playing well, barely looking to be down a man. Closing in on the hour mark the home side again caused Newport trouble. Joe Day was force into pushing a thirty-yard volley from Michael Woods over the bar. Then just minutes later, Jordan Richard fired a free kick just wide
Newport pushed forward. Marlon Jackson knocked down a cross into the path of Sean Rigg. But the striker could only poke the ball wide.
Second Half, 71-90
Soon after Ben Tozer saw his shot deflected into the arms of Carson. Compton then forced him to push a free kick wide of the post. A cross by Rigg into the box on 83 minutes was again dealt with as Hartlepool defended in numbers. Darren Jones fired high just three minutes from time before Rigg volleyed over from a corner.
The last chance fell to Hartlepool. The home side were hoping to score a last minute winner and pumped the ball high into the Newport penalty box. But nobody was able to get on the end of it and as the ball went out for a goal kick, the final whistle blew.
Lineups
Hartlepool: Carson, Richards, Nsiala, Bates (Donnelly, 75), Carroll, Alessandra, Woods, Featherstone, Thomas, Amond (Hawkins, 82), Paynter (Harrison, 75)
Subs not used: Oates, Bartlett, Deverdics, Laurent
County: Day, Butler, Jones, Bennett, Bignot, Myrie-Williams (Compton, 53), Labadie (Tozer, 64), Randall, Jackson (Barnum-Bobb, 75), Parkin, Rigg
Subs not used: Bittner, Owen-Evans, Sheehan, Green Booked: Randall, Jones
Referee: Andy Haines
Attendance: 3,261 (55 County)
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