Harris the fall guy for Newport

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

MARK Harris missed the vital spot-kick as Newport County exited the Checkatrade Trophy after their thrilling 7-6 penalty shootout defeat to Cheltenham Town.

Padraig Amond’s first-half opener was cancelled out by Cheltenham’s Alex Addai in the second period as the 90 minutes ended with the sides all square.

It meant the game went straight to penalties and after 13 perfect conversions from both sides, Harris saw his effort saved by Scott Flinders in the Cheltenham goal.

A much-changed County side were ahead in just 17 minutes at Whaddon Road.

Cameron Pring was the creator, the midfielder did superbly down the left hand side, and crossed low for Amond who did the rest for a one-goal lead.

Town’s Sam Jones then wasted two chances to level the scores and was then booked to compound things further.

Harris was the next to go close for Cheltenham as he curled over the bar, but the hosts couldn’t get back on terms before the break.

William Boyle followed Jones as Cheltenham players to be booked at the start of the second half while County’s Dan Butler saw a volleyed effort blocked.

But Cheltenham’s chances kept coming and they equalised after Newport failed to clear and the loose ball fell to Addai who made them pay with a hooked finish inside the box.

Both teams used their substitutes with the returning Joss Labadie entering the fray for Newport and Josh Sheehan had a free-kick saved as the penalties arrived.

Cheltenham were perfect from the spot and although Amond, Butler, Labadie, Sheehan, Antoine Semenyo and Mickey Demetriou all scored for Newport, Harris’ miss sent them out.

Newport (4-3-3): Townsend; Forbes (Pipe 66), Franks, Foulston (Demetriou 79), Butler; Cooper (Labadie 70), Sheehan, Pring; Semenyo, Harris, Amond Substitutes not used: Day, Taylor, Hillman, Collins