Amond strike is enough

NEWPORT CO ...................1 CHELTENHAM ..................0

PADRAIG Amond’s first-half goal proved decisive and fired Newport County to victory over Cheltenham on a rain-lashed evening at Rodney Parade, writes Carl Field.

County boss Mike Flynn made two changes to the side that drew 0-0 with Wycombe at the weekend, with Scot Bennett and Tom Owen-Evans coming in for injured skipper Joss Labadie and Robbie Willmott, who dropped to the bench respectively.

In what was a frantic start with the Robins winning two corners inside the first 90 seconds, Will Boyle had a sight of goal when the ball fell to him after a scramble inside the box but was unable to get his shot away.

County had a penalty appeal waved away in the eighth minute when Owen-Evans went down under a challenge from Harry Pell.

Matt Dolan then fizzed in a low shot from 30 yards but keeper Scott Flinders was equal to it on 14 minutes.

The visitors were presented with a glorious chance on 19 minutes when Mohamed Eisa seized on a misplaced pass from Dolan but shot wide in what was a big left off for County.

Rigg headed wide after 24 minutes from Owen-Evans’ cross and moments later, Flinders produced a flying save to turn Owen-Evans’ effort round for a corner.

As good as County were looking going forward they certainly looked vulnerable themselves and captain Kyle Storer should probably have scored for Cheltenham from Joe Morrell’s cross on 33 minutes.

However the opening goal did finally arrive two minutes later and it was for County when, after a corner and a miss-hit Ben White shot Amond, who wasted chances at the weekend, made no mistake this time, turning the ball home from close range at the back post to put them in front at the break.

Into the second half and Dolan sent a 25-yard free-kick wide while only Taylor Moore’s excellent last-ditch challenge halted Rigg in his tracks as he looked to go through on goal.

Meanwhile White did brilliantly to head off the line on 72 minutes to stop Storer heading the visitors level.

Amond very nearly added another late on.