STREET ON ROAD TO COUNTY WIN
ROB Street’s first league goal set Newport County on their way to three precious points on the road to stay in the fight for automatic promotion. The 20-year-old on-loan Crystal Palace striker had to bide his time to get a chance to make the starting line-up and it took an injury to Courtney Baker-Richardson to open things up for him. James Rowberry then threw him in against Tranmere in tandem with Dom Telford and he has turned into a lucky charm.
His goal in the 48th minute made it three wins and a draw since he came into the side and a second goal from Ryan Haynes proved to be the icing on the cake. County started the day in sixth and moved up to third, one point behind second placed Northampton Town, as results around them went their way.
Rowberry had warned his players that relegation threatened Stevenage would be fighting for their lives and to take nothing for granted given the gulf in league positions between the two teams. He was right to do so because the home side came closest to scoring in a tight first-half.
The wind made life difficult for both teams and County struggled to keep their passing game on track in the conditions. As they struggled to put anything together, their only real joy came from balls over the top.
Even so, Rowberry’s men were the better team in the opening exchanges before the hosts, down in 21st place in the table, grew into the game. They had the best of the very limited chances and that meant Nick Townsend was the busier of the two keepers.
He was forced to make two important saves, the second from a brilliant shot from Zain Westbrooke in the 39th minute was crucial. That allowed County to go into the break on level terms.
Rowberry swapped Jake Cain for the experienced Matty Dolan just before the break and sent out Ryan Haynes in place of Aaron Lewis at the start of the second half due to an injury. The latter proved very positive as Haynes got on the scoresheet.
The first goal was always going to be crucial and it fell to Street to provide in three minutes into the second half. A corner from the right wasn’t cleared and a low cross from the left from Telford was tapped in by his strike partner.
A week earlier it had been James Waite who had opened his club account in the 1-0 win over Bristol Rovers and now Street has joined the party. With six games unbeaten, County head to Carlisle on Tuesday before hosting Hartlepool on Friday in two more eminently winnable fixtures.
The second goal from Haynes in the 71st minute provided the breathing space Rowberry and the travelling County fans had been craving. The wing back cut inside on the edge of the area and curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner with his right foot.
That was game, set and match and the march towards promotion continues.