STREET SPARKS IN-FORM EXILES
JAMES Rowberry is keeping Newport County grounded despite a win at Stevenage propelling them into the top three.
Rob Street netted his first for the club after 48 minutes before Ryan Haynes doubled the lead and clinched three points for the visitors.
When asked if he had eyes on a points total that would clinch promotion or a playoff position for County, Rowberry said: “Internally we will.
“We have got to stay in the moment and focus on what Newport County need to do.
“We can’t get carried away, but it’s another good win for us and we’re delighted.
“I’m pleased for Rob Street. It’s a brilliant moment for him to get his first goal for the club.”
A slow start saw the sides level with few opportunities at the break, but both teams picked up the pace in the second half.
On-loan striker Street, whose only previous goal
was for Crystal Palace’s Under-23s, broke the deadlock three minutes after half-time.
Stevenage failed to properly clear a corner from the right-hand side and Street tapped in when the ball was returned to the box from the left by Dom Telford.
The play-off chasing visitors won 5-0 in the reverse fixture in Rowberry’s first home game in charge of County.
This time they had to settle for only two goals, but they still ensured that relegation-threatened Stevenage are now winless in eight games.
Stevenage missed two good attempts at an equaliser before
substitute Haynes made the points safe 20 minutes from time, striking a fine long-distance effort into the net for his second goal of the campaign. Haynes ran into space, cut inside and curled a right-footed shot into the far corner from about 25 yards.
Newport’s latest win puts them in third place in the table, only one point adrift of second-placed Northampton.
Stevenage have collected only three points from a possible 24 and this latest defeat, coupled with Barrow’s 0-0 draw at Rochdale, drops Paul Tisdale’s side to third bottom, three points above the drop zone.
Tisdale said: “We have got enough, but we have got to convert that into a result.
“I like the team and I like the connections and the determination.
“You could see at the end we were snatching at things. But that comes with the anxiety of our situation.
“That’s two games now we have been really committed. We have to trust in each other, they have got to trust in me.
“The first goal is one we need. The second one comes when you are full of confidence and placing it in from 25 yards. We have to find a way of going in front and find a way of scoring a goal under pressure.”