Exiles edge promotion rivals in a goal-fest

JAMES Rowberry labelled Newport County’s win over promotion rivals Tranmere Rovers as one of their best performances of the season with all six goals coming after the break.

Despite a nervy finish, the Exiles ended a four-game winless streak to stay in the mix for the League Two play-offs.

Rowberry said: “It settles the nerves, for sure, but our performance was up there with the better ones of the season so far. Look at the chances that we had – it could have been six or seven goals.

“And there is a reason why Tranmere are third in the league. They haven’t conceded many goals and we scored four against them.

“I felt as though we controlled the game with and without the ball. They got two goals back and then again we showed our character and attitude to keep going.”

After a first half of few clear-cut chances, the match was sparked into life with a fine finish from Aaron Lewis five minutes after the restart. The Newport left-back cut in from the flank and bent a right-foot shot inside the far post.

League top scorer Dom Telford then doubled the hosts’ advantage from the penalty spot in the 58th minute after Callum MacDonald brought down Finn Azaz, although the challenge appeared to be outside the box.

Tranmere pulled a goal back after 65 minutes when Josh Dacres-Cogley’s scuffed effort beat Nick Townsend.

And they looked like taking a point back to Merseyside when Kieron Morris’s low drive was deflected in by Micky Demetriou with six minutes remaining.

But Aston Villa loanee Azaz curled in a spectacular effort to restore Newport’s lead in the 87th minute, and Telford confirmed the victory in stoppage time.

Tranmere manager Mickey Mellon admitted his side were second best.

He said: “I’m disappointed with the whole performance. We never really got going but we got ourselves back into it and then we did ourselves in at the end.

“We let the travelling fans down and all the ones at home. We never found that fight that’s needed in a big game like this.

“We’ve had a frank conversation in the changing room because we were nowhere near the intensity levels needed to get a result in games like this.”