Newport triumph over O’s as Kyprianou impresses

In a sunny, but cold afternoon in East London, a steadily improving Leyton Orient side welcomed Newport County, who are a side that have a reputation for their successful cup runs of late.

Both teams named strong line-up’s, as both embarked on their FA Cup campaigns.

It was a lively and physical start to the game. Newport have a ‘tough team’ reputation, and within the first handful of minutes, they put a couple of tackles in, letting Orient know that is wasn’t going to be an easy game, with Newport’s technical and physical presence.

The first effort of the game arrived from a throw-in, that found its way to Scot Bennett. It was a half chance, and his shot sailed well wide of the Orient goal. Orient replied minutes later after Louis Dennis found Danny Johnson in the box, he wriggled to find space, but his shot was straight at Nick Townsend.

Tristan Abrahams went through on goal, however a fantastic sliding challenge by Jamie Turley prevented him from getting the shot away. The tackle was well timed, and clean, but that did not stop Newport appealing like it was an obvious penalty. Orient hit Newport straight on the counter, the move ended with Connor Wilkinson having a shot after finding some space, but it was easy for Townsend.

It was Newport who found the breakthrough, Lawrence Vigouroux was found way out of his box and a mis-hit pass found Ash Baker. Baker hit his shot first time, and with no keeper in goal, made no mistake. It was a poor goal to concede.

Within three minutes the score was level. Hector Kyprianou, who was a surprise inclusion to the squad, hammered home a loose ball that was not cleared after a corner. It was the perfect way to hit back after conceding such a poor goal.

Newport will have considered themselves frustrated not to be leading at half time, after Baker was found in the box after some good play down the left. He blazed it over from a couple of yards out. It was the sort of chance that looked easier to score. The last action of the half was a header straight at Vigouroux after a free-kick out wide.

Michael Flynn had a strange half time tactic. Newport’s players did not return to the changing rooms during the break, and they were on the pitch after five minutes. It nearly worked too, as Abrahams played a great ball to Haynes out on the left, he fed it to Jamie Devitt, who’s curled effort beat Vigouroux, but the effort cannoned off the post. County were the only ones threatening, with a couple of long shots and crosses.

Orient enjoyed their first effort of note when Johnson was threaded through by Wilkinson, he beat his defender but couldn’t hit the target. It is the first real chance of the half for Orient, and one that an in-form Johnson will have been annoyed at missing the target.

Newport regained the lead with an excellent solo effort by Devitt. He found space around 25 yards out and looked like he always wanted to shoot. His effort was powerful and curled around Vigouroux.

Orient fought hard to create a chance, which fell to Kyprianou. Full of confidence from his earlier goal, he shot, however it was high and wide of Townsend’s goal. After this, it was Orient who were pushing, however they didn’t really create.

Newport saw the game out well. They defended their box and kept compact and tight. Orient were limited to long balls, and loose crosses into the box, which is credit to the way Newport controlled the game.

And Unlikely Shining Light

Hector Kyprianou was not expected to feature. He has barely even made the bench this season, let alone started. However, he put in a performance that will have grabbed the attention of the fans. His goal was expertly taken, and that is what will get him the plaudits.

However, it was how he handled himself in the middle of the park that showed his talents. Hector broke up play well and put in some very well-timed challenges. Newport are a physical team, that move the ball well, and in a rich vein of form, but Orient weren’t overrun and dominated. This was down to how Kyprianou played his game.

Although they lost, a big positive is that Kyprianou put in this type of performance against a team at the top of the league. He will be knocking on the door in search of more minutes, and has a manager in Ross Embleton, that will always back his younger players if they perform.

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