Cooper uses his head to keep Newport top of table

BRANDON Cooper’s first goal in senior professional football couldn’t have come at a better time for Newport County as it guided them to a fifth successive win to move five points clear at the top of League Two.

The Wales Under-21 defender soared majestically at the far post three minutes from time to head home a corner from Scott Twine to make it back-to-back home wins in the space of five days.

It was just another example of the positive contribution he is making to the Newport side since joining on loan from Swansea City. He grew up at his parent club alongside Joe Rodon and Ben Cabango.

“I’ve played with Ben and Joe for years and I’ve seen first-hand what they have done. Joe has had a big move to the Premier League and I hope he can push on,” said Cooper.

“Ever since I was a young boy I’ve dreamt about pulling on the Welsh shirt like them one day. It would be such a proud moment for me.

“I’m within touching distance in the under-21s and we are there to try to push on. So many boys have made their debuts under Ryan Giggs and I don’t see why more of us can’t.

“You just have to be playing well. If he thinks you are good enough, that’s what matters.”

Cooper is certainly playing well enough at the moment to deserve a look, even though he is operating in League Two. His goal also proved he has been able to put behind him the penalty miss in the shootout against Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup a month earlier.

“It was easy to put the penalty miss behind me. I can’t let little blips in the road like that stop my momentum,” said Cooper.

“The support the boys show each other on a daily basis is what gets you through moments like that.

“The manager came up to me straightaway, put his arm around me and made a joke about something. That’s the way the environment is at this club – it’s a great place to be.”

Padraig Amond, who scored the winner against Colchester in midweek, got Newport started with a brilliant goal on the half-hour, but Harrogate rocked their hosts with a goal by Will Smith shortly after they had been reduced to 10 men with the dismissal of Josh Falkingham.

Once again Michael Flynn had to wait until late in the day for his side to kill off the opposition, but they got there in the end thanks to Cooper.