Labadie leads the way as County chalk up a vital three points on the road
THAT’S more like it! Newport are still very much in the promotion race after exorcising their demons with a polished win on the road.
For the second time in three away matches the highly influential Joss Labadie scored and it was his first-half effort that laid the platform for a much needed victory that pushed them two places up the table into seventh.
Labadie’s strike in the 31st minute was followed by a trademark prod home on the far post by Padraig Amond in the second half and after that County were able to cruise to victory.
Amond’s goal came moments after Colchester hit the self-destruct button and made life a lot easier for their visitors. County old boy Frank Nouble picked up backto-back yellow cards for nasty tackles on some old team mates and then Ryan Clampin lost his cool.
As Labadie took the ball to the corner flag in the 78th minute the home defender came charging over and barged him five yards into touch. He was lucky he only saw yellow, but further punished from the free kick.
The super Matty Dolan rolled the ball short to his captain, Labadie crossed to the near post and a flick on saw the predatory Amond slide in at the back post and claim his first goal since 8 December.
There was still enough time for the customary defensive lapse in the 85th minute with a back header to Nick Townsend almost letting in the home side, but other than that it was a very good day at the office for the defensive line.
There were some early chances for County, was notably to Nicky Maynard after a Ryan Haynes cross had been knocked down to him. The ball wouldn’t come down quickly enough to him and his shot turned into a tame effort and was easily saved from the edge of the six yard box.
But there was no stopping Labadie’s effort in the 31st minute as he stretched to meet Josh Sheehan’s low cross from the left to hit the back of the net once again. It was no less than the more creative Exiles’ deserved and they played with confidence and with a smile on their faces.
Now they have something to build on when they head to the lush green surface of Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday need to meet Bradford City in a game at their new home away from home for the next few games. If it allows them to play more like this then they can look forward to bagging a few more points.
COLCHESTER: George; Tchamadeu, Clampin, Eastman, Smith (captain); Harriott, SarpongWiredu, Chilvers; Nouble, Oteh, Folivi
NEWPORT COUNTY: Townsend; Demetriou, Dolan, Farquharson; Haynes, Bennett, Labadie (captain, Hartigan 90), Sheehan, Shephard (Lewis 90); Maynard (Taylor 50), Amond (Scrimshaw 90)
REFEREE: Anthony Coggins
DUE TO EARLY DEADLINES WE ARE UNABLE TO PRINT A REPORT OF WREXHAM’S NATIONAL LEAGUE GAME AT SUTTON UTD