How they rated

TOM KING

Did well to come out and clear the danger early on. Very solid handling and didn’t put a foot wrong. Good save from a Morecambe shot from distance which almost left him wrong footed but couldn’t save the penalty in extra time.

LIAM SHEPHARD

Always looked for a forward ball from his defensive position and went close with a shot from distance with his weaker left foot in the 78th minute. Unlucky to be on the losing side.

SCOT BENNETT

Has played in midfield for most of the season, but was at centre-half here. Came close to opening goal when he headed just wide and should have had a penalty after being taken out by the Morecambe goalkeeper. Also had a shot deflected just wide into the side netting.

MICKEY DEMETRIOU

Also had a half shout for a penalty in the opening 20 minutes. Very solid defensively and looked cool and calm on the big stage throughout. His long throws were Newport’s best attacking threat. Very impressive. Booked.

AARON LEWIS

6 Cheeky early nutmeg down the right wing and although he was a lively presence in attack, he defended solidly too. Removed from the fray in favour of striker Ryan Taylor in the second half as Newport changed shape.

JOSS LABADIE (CAPT)

The Newport County captain was back in the starting line-up

5 as the only change from the thrilling play-off semi-final second leg win over Forest Green Rovers. Relentless worker in the middle of the park. Missed a sitter from Nicky Maynard’s ball in extra time and it was crucial.

JOSH SHEEHAN

7 He missed out on selection for Wales’ European Championship campaign this summer but was the heartbeat of the Newport side. Had a series of shots saved across the game and prompted and probed throughout only to struggle to create clear chances.

MATTY DOLAN

6 One of Newport’s standout figures this season and started in midfield here. Was his usual solid self in a tight game before he was replaced in the second half by Anthony Hartigan. Passed the ball nicely and was a key man as Newport dominated the ball.

6 He only had possession in space down the left on a handful of occasions, but his delivery almost always caused trouble in the Morecambe box. Had a free-kick saved in added time. Harshly penalised for Morecambe’s match-winning penalty.

RYAN HAYNES LEWIS COLLINS

Had a deflected effort saved and never stopped working, but he had very few chances on goal. Ran the channels well but wasn’t able to grab what would have been an all-important goal.

PADRAIG AMOND

5 Barely got a sniff, but he gave it absolutely everything. The end to the season hasn’t gone quite his way and he was substituted late on in favour of play-off semi-final second leg hero Nicky Maynard.

SUBSTITUTES

7 7 7 8

5

Ryan Taylor (for Lewis 62) – 6 Did brilliantly to battle and win possession in the closing stages of normal time and had a good impact off the bench. Anthony Hartigan (for Dolan 63) – 5 Solid enough in midfield but didn’t set the world alight.

Nicky Maynard (for Amond 80) – 6 Cleverly won a free-kick and put in a brilliant cross in extra time which Labadie should have converted. Kevin Ellison (for Collins 86) – 5 Maybe he put off Labadie as he was in close proximity when Maynard crossed. Didn’t have the fairytale finish against his former club.

Priestley Farquharson (for Haynes 110) – 5 Thrown on for the final few minutes as Newport went direct but didn’t have time to make an impact.