County cursing their luck after Coulthirst grabs Barnet winner

SHAQUILE Coulthirst broke Newport County hearts as his late header snatched victory for struggling Barnet in a rain-soaked League Two encounter at Rodney Parade.

The game had looked set to end in a stalemate after John Akinde had cancelled out Ben White’s opener. But Coulthirst struck at the death to extend County’s winless league run to six games.

It was a slow start from the hosts with the first chance of the match falling to Ryan Watson, however, Joe Day was equal to his curling 25-yard free kick.

A mix-up in the Barnet defence allowed Frank Nouble to set up Scot Bennett on the edge of the box as County responded well.

His fierce effort took a big deflection off of Ricardo Santos to leave former Exiles ‘keeper Jamie Stephens stranded but the post came to Barnet’s rescue.

Nouble’s strength was proving problematic for the Bees defence and twice he tested Stephens but on both occasions the shot-stopper denied him.

Barnet gained momentum towards the end of the first half and should’ve gone ahead but a superb one-handed diving save from Day kept out Akinde’s lofted header before Mickey Demetriou was in the right place to hack Dan Sweeney’s goal-bound effort clear.

NEWPORT COUNTY ..................... 1 BARNET .......................................... 2

Controversy struck on the stroke of half time as the stadium erupted with boos with the home fans demanding a red card for Santos after the defender appeared to barge Robbie Wilmott into the advertising boards.

Referee Michael Salisbury only brandished a yellow card, which made him an immediate enemy of the Rodney Parade faithful.

Wilmott re-emerged after the break but only lasted 15 minutes before he was replaced by skipper Joss Labadie.

His return helped County take back control of the game and they then took the lead with 15 minutes to go.

Nouble’s in-swinging cross was punched clear by Stephens but only as far as White whose header crept into the bottom right-hand corner.

But County conceded a late equaliser for the third game in the row as Akinde headed in Jamal Campbell-Ryce’s cross late in the game to level the score.

However, there was even later drama as another Campbell-Ryce cross caused problems and Coultirst reacted first to head in the winner.