Joss’ late show puts squeeze on Derry
NEWPORT’S Joss Labadie came back to haunt Cambridge again with a last-minute strike to heap more pressure on under-fire U’s boss Shaun Derry.
Labadie scored twice when County knocked Cambridge out of the FA Cup earlier this month and the Exiles skipper was his side’s hero again when he scored a fortuitous late winner.
Matt Dolan’s freekick into the box was punched away by U’s keeper David Forde, but hit Labadie, and looped into the net.
Shawn McCoulsky had given Newport a first-half lead before Jevani Brown equalised with a screamer 15 minutes from time.
Derry’s side were pelted with a chorus of boos at the final whistle.
The Cambridge boss said: “The life of a modern-day football manager is that you get the praise when things are going well and criticism when they’re not, and I accept that.
“I’m ok with the pressure of the job and I didn’t feel this was a low point.
“I can only look at the performance and I felt we played really well but the goal right at the end highlights where we are at the moment, and you just hope it will turn soon.”
Cambridge dominated but were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal.
George Maris swept a shot wide in the 18th minute and soon afterwards, Brown saw an effort blocked away for a corner.
They fell behind in the 43rd minute when Labadie’s shot from distance was parried by Forde and Bristol City loanee McCoulsky swept in for his tenth goal of the season.
In the second half, Joe Day made a great save to parry a Paul Lewis header before the outstanding Brown shrugged off a couple of tackles and curled in a spectacular long-range shot from 20 yards.
But it was the visitors who went home happy thanks to Labadie’s late intervention.
Delighted Newport manager Mike Flynn said: “I’m not sure what happened on the winner but I don’t care if it went in off his nose or his backside.
“It’s an unbelievable delivery from Matty Dolan and we’ve got a bit of luck.
“We haven’t had much luck this season, so we enjoyed that moment.
“I didn’t think we were at our best but it’s a great feeling to get the late winner.
“We’ve got the boys fit and organised and they cover for each other.
“We’re not the finished article but we’re going in the right direction.”