Categories: Prost International

Newport home record ended as they draw with resilient Saddlers

Newport County were held to a draw by Walsall at Rodney Parade.

A freak goal for the home side was not enough, but they stay three points clear.

Newport made two changes from their late win against Port Vale with Joss Labadie and Jamie Proctor coming in. Jamie Devitt and Tristan Abrahams dropped to the bench.

Saddlers’ boss Darrell Clarke retained faith in maligned goalkeeper Liam Roberts, leading the line with former Fulham man Elijah Adebayo.

The match began with the away side on the front foot, with Newport pinned in their own half for the first five minutes. without any real chances of note.

It was a game of two halves – in the first half. The first 20 minutes were a dogged battle. The next 25 was electric.

The floodgates opened thanks to Adebayo – who after some great work from the diminutive Alfie Bates, fired home into Nick Townsend’s bottom right hand corner.

Just a minute later, Newport levelled.

Scott Twine has been known for his long-range peaches this season – but none quite like this. He struck a bouncing effort from 35-yards, seemingly straight forward for Roberts but he spilled in.

Adebayo, just a minute later, inexplicably fired over from four yards in what was a much easier chance than the one he actually took.

The hosts maintained pressure throughout the second period, but not even the introduction of veteran Kevin Ellison or speed-demon Tristan Abrahams could salvage three points.

Twine came closest, with the midfielder misfiring his header wide.

Newport stay three points clear after Cheltenham dropped two points tonight, with the Saddlers moving down a place into 16th.

Newport County: Townsend; Haynes, Demetriou, Dolan, Cooper, Shephard; Labadie, Sheehan, Twine; Proctor, Amond

Subs: King, Willmott, Bennett, Abrahams, Devitt, Janneh, Ellison

Walsall: Roberts; Norman, Scarr, Clarke, Jules; Holden, Kinsella, Bates, Osadebe, Scrimshaw: Adebayo

Subs: Rose, Sinclair, Lavery, McDonald, Guthrie, Nolan, White

Follow my personal Twitter @ChrisStonadge

Follow us on Twitter @ProstInt

Share and Enjoy !

Shares
Chris Stonadge

Sports Journalism student, streamer at LFC Transfer Room, Anfield Agenda. Liverpool fan with a particular interest in Welsh, Youth, and African football.

Recent Posts

Angel City battles but still comes up short against league-best KC Current

Angel City did what it needed to do on Monday night. Facing the recently-crowned NWSL…

2 days ago

A hurtful shootout for the Portland Timbers on the road

  No miracle and no victory on the road as the Portland Timbers once again…

2 days ago

Whitecaps unbeaten in ten again after a win over Quakes

Vancouver Whitecaps 4-1 San Jose Earthquakes VANCOUVER, BC--For the second time this season, Vancouver Whitecaps…

3 days ago

Gotham, Reign play to stalemate

Gotham FC 0-0 Seattle Reign HARRISON, NJ--The log jam between third and eighth remains so…

3 days ago

Stars rally for another draw

Chicago Stars FC 2-2 Utah Royals BRIDGEVIEW, IL--The Chicago Stars for a number of games…

3 days ago

LAFC does enough to get past Atlanta

It wasn't the prettiest of matches, but a win is still a win for LAFC.…

3 days ago