Sheehan’s return is a boon for Exiles
MICHAEL Flynn doffed his cap to Josh Sheehan as the midfielder shone on his long-awaited comeback in Newport’s third league win on the spin.
The 22-year-old saw his impressive loan spell at Rodney Parade from Swansea last season cut short by an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury.
Sheehan went back to the Swans in March but, after returning to Newport on a free transfer earlier this month, he tasted his first action for almost 11 months as Flynn’s troops downed Crawley on Friday night.
“In the first half he was the old Josh Sheehan,” said the Exiles manager.
“Okay, there were a few loose touches but he was finding space, he was picking passes, and it was a joy to have him back.”
Two goals just before half-time – a Padraig Amond header and Mickey Demetriou penalty – saw Newport keep themselves in fine fettle.
Jimmy Smith reduced the deficit in the second period but Harry Kewell’s men saw their three-match winning run come to an end.
Flynn added: “It was a hard-earned win. We were absolutely superb in the first half. We played them off the park and should have been out of sight.”
Kewell’s men may have been beaten but the Red Devils boss remains philosophical, with his team having hit their stride in recent weeks.
“I felt we deserved something out of the game,” said Kewell. “We just needed that little bit more quality.
“But it’s football. We can’t mope around.
“We’ve got to get going and it’s always good that there’s another game around the corner.”
Amond signalled his intent as early as the 13th minute when he cracked an effort against the underside of the Crawley bar, and seven minutes before the break Ben Tozer also smacked the frame of the goal with a half-volley.
Shortly afterwards, Ben White curled a cross into the area and Amond stooped to nod home.
Sheehan was then chopped down by Josh Lelan in the box, with referee Simon Hooper pointing to the spot to award Newport their first penalty of the season, Mickey Demetriou dispatching it to make it 2-0.
After half-time, Joe Day dropped a high ball under pressure from Thomas Verheydt, allowing Smith to tap over the line.
But the Newport goalkeeper redeemed himself by thwarting Aryan Tajbakhsh’s spectacular strike.