Exiles end a long hoodoo to boost their play-off hopes
NEWPORT County ended a long hoodoo as they notched up their first win at Colchester since 1973 to move back into the League Two play-off places.
None of the players, and not even the manager, were born then and goalscorer Padraig Amond admitted the team were concerned it might be another groundhog day at the Jobserve Stadium.
“I had never won a game there before and it was nice to break the hoodoo,” he said.
“Every time we’d been here before it had turned into a disaster.
“It’s brilliant to break that record and it’s nice to be back on track.”
That opening goal fell to the highly influential Joss Labadie, who hit the target for the second time in the last three away games to lay the platform for a muchneeded victory that pushed Newport up the table into sixth.
Labadie’s strike in the 31st minute was followed by a trademark prod home on the far post by Amond in the second half, and after that County were able to cruise to victory.
Amond’s goal came moments after Colchester hit the self-destruct button and made life a lot easier for their visitors. County old boy Frank Nouble picked up backto-back yellow cards for nasty tackles on old team-mates and then Ryan Clampin lost his cool.
As Labadie took the ball to the corner flag in the 78th minute, the home defender came charging over and barged him five yards into touch. He was lucky he only saw yellow, but was further punished from the free-kick.
The superb Matty Dolan rolled the ball short to his captain, Labadie crossed to the near post and a flick-on saw the predatory Amond slide in at the back post and claim his first goal since December 8.
“I have been working as hard as I can off the pitch to get my chance,” he said.
“It has been frustrating, but it has been a frustrating time for all of us because we haven’t been able to play in our style.
“We just want to play as many games as we can, and score as many goals as possible before the end of the season.
“We all feel we should be higher up the league, but it has been a difficult year but with 15 games to play it is still in our hands.”
Now they have something to build on when they head to Cardiff City Stadium tomorrow to meet Bradford City in a game at their new home away from home for the next few games.