SHEEHAN’S AIM IS TO SCORE MORE
JOSH Sheehan is determined to fire in more goals to fuel Newport County’s promotion charge after his stunning strike sunk Scunthorpe United on Saturday.
The Exiles midfielder ended an 11month goal drought to send his side into the automatic promotion places with a 2-1 triumph.
And Sheehan believes it’s his responsibility to ease the goal-scoring burden on strikers Padraig Amond and Jamille Matt as Newport mount another assault on promotion to League One.
“It’s about time I finally scored because the gaffer has been onto me about hitting the target more at least, I hit the target this time and it went in so I’m buzzing with that,” he said.
“I want to score as many goals as I can to help the team as midfielders we need to chip in to help the strikers instead of leaving it up to them like last year.
“My last goal was back in November last year, but it’s something I want to get into my game. I’m playing a little bit deeper but I still want to get forward and that came good.
“I want to keep on improving and playing better. As long as the gaffer keeps picking me then I’m doing something right.”
It was last season’s leading man, Padraig Amond, who got the breakthrough in the fourth minute of firsthalf stoppage time
Right-back Danny McNamara whipped the ball back into the danger zone where Willmott diverted the ball toward goal, and Amond used his poacher’s instincts to head the ball into the back of the net for a 1-0 lead at the break.
But Newport were their own worst enemies in the 49th minute when James Perch played a teasing ball in across the six-yard box and watched O’Brien slice it into his own net.
But the hosts retook the lead seven minutes later when Amond brought Ryan Haynes’s high clearance down with a deft touch and left it for the onrushing Sheehan, who caressed a first-time effort into the bottom corner.
Mike Flynn’s side are a point off top after the win with a game in hand over their promotion rivals after a run of 14 games unbeaten at home, and Sheehan is determined to build on their solid foundations.
“We want to keep on ticking over and keep on grinding out those wins,” he added. “Teams don’t like coming to Rodney Parade and we’ll keep making the most of that. We’ll go again Tuesday night and then hopefully take it into an away trip next weekend.
“We’re on a good run, at home we know we’ll give every team a good battle and we’ll fight for every ball.” NEWPORT: King; McNamara, Inniss, O’Brien, Haynes; Willmott, Labadie (Nurse 85), Bennett, Sheehan; Matt, Amond (Abrahams 85). SCUNTHORPE: Watson; Perch, McGahey, McArdle, Brown; Gilliead (Ward 68), Songo’o, Sutton (Slater 57), Colclough; Novak, Proctor (Van Veen 78).