Boden on song to put paid to hoodoo
NEWPORT County manager Warren Feeney praised his side’s character after they finally beat bogey-side Morecambe at the sixth attempt.
The Welsh side had lost all five of their previous encounters with the Shrimps since winning promotion back to the Football League in 2013.
Newport’s nemesis in those matches was winger Kevin Ellison, who had scored three goals and been the central figure in penalties, own goals and red cards galore.
Feeney dismissed any talk of a jinx but it was the visitors who had the last laugh at the Globe Arena as Ellison hit the bar in the first half and missed a glorious chance at the death.
“I’m delighted,” said Exiles boss Feeney.
“I knew it was going to be very tough up here but, like I said before, I don’t believe in hoodoos.
“The character that we showed in this match and over the past few games has really pleased me.
“We got off to a fantastic start but after we conceded we knew they were going to throw everything at us and we coped well.
“It was a great effort here in difficult conditions.
“We put in a great shift here.
“Probably a couple of our players weren’t at their best.
“Alex Rodman wasn’t at it but he produced one bit of magic and Bodes sticks it away.
“That’s what we’ve got to believe in.
“Sometimes you play well and you lose games but they fought for each other, they dug in when they had to and they defended very well.”
Newport striker Scott Boden was the hero with a goal in either half.
He opened the scoring after just 56 seconds from Mark Byrne’s corner and volleyed in the winner on 69 minutes from Rodman’s cross.
Shaun Miller had rifled in a superb equaliser on the hour but Morecambe slipped to a second home defeat of the week and the home fans booed their side at the end of the game.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose the game here but that’s life, that’s football,” said Shrimps boss Jim Bentley, who warned his players they have to improve dramatically after a midweek loss to Mansfield Town.
“I’m not stupid, I know it’s a results business.
“People get frustrated and that’s life; that goes on, but we’ve got to take it on the chin.
“We’re a little bit depleted and we looked like we needed freshening up.
“But the players that are here have to go out and fight for their individual futures.
“A lot of our squad are out of contract in the summer and they know they have to keep their foot on the gas.”