FINN’S MAGIC EARNS COUNTY VICTORY
FINN Azaz made up for conceding an own goal in the 2-1 defeat to Swindon Town at Rodney Parade earlier in the season by inspiring late goal to earn Newport three vital points at the County Ground.
The midfielder struck a killer blow in the 91st minute to finally give the 1,100 travelling County fans something to shout about after they had seen their side play the majority of the game on the back foot.
Azaz latched onto a long ball down the touchline and found himself oneon-one with the advancing goalkeeper, Jojo Wollacott. He danced around him, ran along the touchline before passing towards goal from the tightest of angles.
It was certainly bound for the net, but was ultimately put in there by the back-pedalling Dion Conroy. He was eventually credited with an own goal, but it was Azaz’s brilliance that earned it.
He celebrated with the fans, got booked for taking off his shirt and manager James Rowberry also picked up a yellow card for an exchange with the referee. After so little had happened in the game up to that point, all of a sudden it was all going off.
Having dropped out of the play-off places after home defeats to Hartlepool and Exeter City, and an away draw at Bradford, this win moved County up into seventh and very much back into the promotion hunt. For Swindon, the defeat could be terminal for their chances.
Crawley visit Rodney Parade on Good Friday and then Rowberry takes his team to Sutton for a huge clash against a team a mere two points below them and with a game in hand.
County kicked off playing into the wind and made a bright start. Even so, they didn’t get an effort on target in a first half that saw the home side grow in confidence and effectiveness and enjoy 64% possession.
The stats told the story of the opening 45 minutes. Swindon had nine shots, with only two on target, while County had two with none of them threatening the goal. The County fans had to wait until the 72nd minute to see the first shot on target.
That came from top scorer Dom Telford, who came into the action on the hour mark after starting on the bench along with strike partner Courtney Baker-Richardson.
Swindon had their chances to take the lead and it took a great save from Joe Day in the 33rd minute to stop Welsh international Jonny Williams from scoring as he volleyed in a cross from Jack Payne. They then got the ball into Day’s goal five minutes before the break, but Josh Davison had his goal ruled out for offside.
County heaved a heavy sigh of relief and were able to move into the second half on level terms. They grew stronger as the game wore on and the introduction of Telford, Jake Cain and Baker-Richardson breathed new life into the side.
But in the end it was Azaz who grabbed the headlines, though Cain also deserved huge credit for the way in which he nipped in to steal the ball off the toe of Ben Gladwin as he was just about to pull the trigger in the 97th minute as he threatened to grab an equalizer.
SWINDON TOWN: Wollacott; Hunt, Tomlinson (Gladwin 84), Conroy (captain), Baudry; Reed, Payne (Aguiar 75), Iandolo; Davison, Barry (Mitchell-Lawson 81), Williams. Subs Unused: Odimayo, Gladwin, Ward, O’Brien, Egbo.
NEWPORT COUNTY: Day; Lewis, Demetriou, Clarke, Norman; Bennett; Azaz, Willmott (Cain 69); Waite; Collins (Telford 61), Street (Baker-Richardson 66) Subs Unused: Townsend, Haynes, Dolan, Ellison