NEWPORT CO...................2 BARROW............................1
RYAN Taylor’s second-half goal turned Newport County’s good start to the season into a very good start, according to manager Michael Flynn.
Taylor struck three minutes into the second half to edge his new club back in front and seal a 2-1 win over League Two new boys Barrow at Rodney Parade.
Taylor was signed by Flynn from Plymouth in August and has already come up with two goals.
If his first one at Scunthorpe was nothing more than the faintest of touches on a goalbound effort from fellow striker Tristan Abrahams in a 1-1 draw, his second was a thumping effort that deserved to secure victory.
“It has gone from a good start with a point away from home, to a very good start with a home win,” said Flynn.
“We won’t get carried away and we will continue to work hard to try to improve. We started well, but we were quite sloppy in the first half.
“We played some really good stuff, but as I told the players at half-time, every single one of the back five made an individual error before the break.
“That gave Barrow a chance to build some confidence and get a foothold in the game.
“The goal we gave them was poor – it was a calamity – and gave them the impetus to come at us.
“But the second half was a very professional performance and it was pleasing that we carried on playing football.
“I can’t remember them having a shot in the second half.
“We’ve been punished for two errors in our two league games.
“One went in the top corner and the other flew in from 30 yards.
“If we can cut out those errors, things will get even better for us.”
Newport opened the scoring after 19 minutes when Liam Shephard struck his first goal for the club following a neat lay-off by Scott Twine.
That was nothing less than the Exiles deserved for their powerful opening.
But Barrow were always dangerous on the break and fully deserved the goal from their skipper Lewis Hardcastle 10 minutes later. That came from another defensive lapse, this time Brad Cooper and Mickey Demetriou combining to lose the ball to Mike Jones, who played in his captain.
Taylor’s goal came three minutes into the second half when Barrow defender Sam Hird attempted a pass across his box. He only found a grateful Taylor on the edge of the area and the home striker controlled the ball, picked his spot and hammered the ball past Joel Dixon.
Newport upped the tempo in the second half and went on to dominate as they notched up their first league win of the season.
NEWPORT: Townsend, Howkins, Cooper, Demetriou, Shephard, Willmott, Sheehan, Twine, Haynes, Janneh, Taylor. Subs: King, Baker, Labadie, Amond, Abrahams, Bennett, Collins. BARROW: Dixon, Jones, Hird, Ntlhe, Barry, Jones, Beadling, Hardcastle, Brown, James, Angus. Subs: Taylor, Gribbin, Lillis, Wilson, Hindle, Biggins. REFEREE: Robert Lewis.