FOUR DEFEATS IN A ROW FOR THE EXILES
NEWPORT County’s season continues to fizzle out as they lost a fourth successive League Two match for the first time since December 2019. Relegation-threatened Grimsby Town’s need for the points was far greater than County’s and that was evident as the hosts dominated at Blundell Park.
Exiles goalkeeper Nick Townsend made several superb saves, but a first-half strike from Danny Rose was enough for the Mariners to net all three points.
Graham Coughlan made three changes from the Easter Monday mauling at the hands of Crawley Town, with Harrison Bright, Adam Lewis and Luke Jephcott all drafted in to the starting XI.
Scot Bennett, who was forced off in that 4-0 defeat, was passed fit to start in the heart of the defence.
But the extent of their injury problems was highlighted by the presence of 17-year-olds Jac Norris and Nelson Sanca alongside 18-year-old Kiban Rai on the bench.
Grimsby showed their intent from the start as Charles Vernam tried his luck with two shots from distance early on, but his first was well off target and the second was blocked.
Townsend then made a routine save to deny Kieran Green, before Danny Rose and Doug Tharme both saw shots blocked.
Tharme also went close with a couple of headers from Vernam crosses as the hosts continued to dominate.
Coughlan’s men showed a few signs of life as Lewis forced Jake Eastwood into a smart save and Offrande Zanzala sent a header just wide.
But most of the action was at the other end and, after Green and Vernam both saw efforts blocked, Green nodded the ball down for Rose to break the deadlock in the 33rd minute.
County almost conjured the perfect response four minutes later when Jephcott laid the ball off to Kyle Jameson on the edge of box, and the defender forced Eastwood into a strong diving save.
But the Exiles were grateful to Townsend for keeping them within one goal at the break after he pulled off a stunning save to deny Liam Smith just before half-time.
The hosts continued to make most of the running at the start of the second half as shots from Harvey Rodgers and Gavan Holohan were blocked and Vernam fired just wide from outside the box.
Coughlan didn’t wait long to make a double change up front, with
Palmer-Houlden and Omar Bogle on for Jephcott and Zanzala, in an attempt to spark some life into his team.
It didn’t work. Grimsby remained on top, and Townsend had to be alert to deny Toby Mullarkey and keep out three attempts from Donovan Wilson.
All County could muster in response was a wasted free-kick from Bryn Morris, blasted high over Eastwood’s bar.
GRIMSBY TOWN: J Eastwood; T Mullarkey, D Tharme, H Rodgers; L Smith, G Holohan, C Thompson, K Green (H Clifton, 72), C Vernam (J Andrews, 90); D Wilson (J Obikwu, 72), D Rose
NEWPORT COUNTY: N Townsend; M Baker, S Bennett, K Jameson; H Bright, H Charsley (J Norris, 88), B Morris, A Lewis (M Bondswell, 88); W Evans, L Jephcott (S Palmer-Houlden, 57), O Zanzala (O Bogle, 56)
REFEREE: Robert Madley ATTENDANCE: 5,951