Touch of class lights up Flynn’s afternoon

NEWPORT County boss Michael Flynn labelled Ben White’s pass which set up Padraig Amond’s goal against Cheltenham Town as ‘Premier League class’.

Amond met the ball with a perfectly placed looping header to put Newport ahead in the 56th minute before Mo Eisa’s ninth league goal of the season earned the home side a point.

“It was a Premier League pass, forget about the header!” Flynn said.

“It was a well-taken goal of course though and I thought we created enough chances to win the game.

“We had so many opportunities, but we need to take them and kill teams off.

“I am frustrated we haven’t won, but pleased we bounced back after Boxing Day [2-0 defeat at Wycombe].

“We had six people on the bench and two were kids, so I was even tempted to play myself !

“But it’s been a better second half of the year than it was the first half, this time last year we came here and looked all but relegated.

“We have one of the smallest budgets and smallest squads and so we have overachieved.”

Cheltenham manager Gary Johnson said he was satisfied with a point after falling behind to Amond’s goal.

“It’s a game we drew from being in a losing position, so I was pleased with our reaction when they scored what was an unbelievable goal,” Johnson said.

“We were all a bit frustrated because it wasn’t happening for us in the first half.

“We felt if we got at them we could put them under pressure, but their away form is one of the best in the league.

“They get men behind the ball and they have some pace up front and it’s a tactic that is difficult to play against sometime even if you are on song. “Our keeper has made a few saves and so has theirs, but from where we were it’s a point gained.”

Both goalkeepers performed well, with Newport’s Joe Day denying Kevin Dawson with his feet after Joe Morrell’s through ball during first-half stoppage time.

Bristol City loan defender Taylor Moore had cleared an effort from Robbie Willmott off the line in the eighth minute.

Scott Flinders denied Frank Nouble, who caused Cheltenham major problems throughout, in the 75th minute, two minutes before Eisa struck the equaliser after latching onto a long clearance from the goalkeeper.

Flinders did well to keep out a Mickey Demetriou header and he also turned a Nouble drive over the bar.