WAITE’S STUNNER IS A BOOST FOR EXILES
ASTUNNING strike from James Waite earned Newport County a first league double over Bristol Rovers since the 1982-83 season and saw them climb to fourth in League Two.
Rovers boss Joey Barton had described his in-form side as a “big blue-and-white-quartered horse coming through the field like a juggernaut” in the race for promotion but they stumbled in front of more than 6,000 fans at a raucous Rodney Parade.
The opening period was cagey, although striker Rob Street almost gave County an early lead as Jake Cain swung in a cross from the left and Crystal Palace loanee volleyed just wide from 12 yards out.
Aaron Lewis did well to block a goal-bound effort from Collins before Nick Townsend beat away a fierce drive from Nick Anderton.
Sam Nicholson’s shot then looped onto the roof of the net as the visitors threatened to take control of the contest.
But the Exiles went through the gears from midway through the first half with Dom Telford seeing a shot blocked by James Connolly before Cain curled a free-kick onto the outside of the post.
Waite’s superb strike from distance gave the hosts a deserved lead on 33 minutes and they should have extended their advantage before the break.
The influential Cain sent a halfvolley just wide from distance and then beat Rovers goalkeeper James Belshaw with a fizzing free-kick that went just the wrong side of the post.
And Waite had an effort blocked after being teed up by Finn Azaz from a short corner
Azaz was back at it two minutes after the restart, crossing for Street, whose close-range header was palmed over by Belshaw.
And Alex Fisher headed against the post from another fine Azaz cross moments after replacing Street.
But Townsend was forced into a double save to deny Rovers sub Ryan Loft and then Collins to remind County that their advantage was precarious.
Sub Oli Cooper was denied what would have been a clincher in the 89th minute but there were still nerves amongst the home fans as seven minutes of stoppage-time was announced.
And James Rowberry’s men were thankful to goalkeeper Townsend for clawing away a Luca Hoole header at point-blank range in the fifth minute of time added.
That superb save secured an historic victory for the Exiles and provided a huge boost as they aim to return to the third tier of English football for the first time since 1987.
NEWPORT COUNTY: Townsend; Lewis, Norman, Demetriou, Haynes;
SUBS NOT USED: Day, Bright, Collins, Abraham
BRISTOL ROVERS: Belshaw; Hoole, Taylor (Loft, 46), Connolly, Anderton; Evans (Nolan, 64), Whelan (Finley,
64); Nicholson, E. Anderson, H. Anderson; Collins
SUBS NOT USED: Jaakkola, Clarke, Saunders, Coutts
BOOKED: Nicholson, Connolly REFEREE: Darren Handley ATTENDANCE: 6,237