Demetriou at double as County grab win
CRAWLEY TOWN ............. 1 NEWPORT COUNTY ........ 2
MICKEY Demetriou was at the double as Newport County roared back into the League Two play-off places after coming from behind to win at Crawley, writes Carl Field.
Demetriou cancelled out Mark Connolly’s opener for Crawley in the first half and then added another in the second – both from Sean Rigg corners – as Mike Flynn’s side made it back-toback league wins and three from four.
County were unchanged from the team that started Saturday’s 1-0 win over Grimsby at Rodney Parade.
Frank Nouble shot into the side netting early on for County, but the first big moment of the night arrived at the other end after 11 minutes when on-loan Cardiff striker Ibrahim Meite fashioned himself a chance inside the box – but his volley ended up just wide in what was a big let off for the visitors.
Crawley went close again after 19 minutes and it came from an excellent delivery from Jordan Roberts towards the back post which was headed down by Connolly but, fortunately for Newport, nobody was there to provide the finishing touch.
It was the home side who broke the deadlock on the halfhour mark when Enzio Boldewin clipped a free-kick to the back stick where Connolly flicked the ball beyond Joe Day.
The Reds very nearly doubled their advantage on 36 minutes when Lewis Young was given space down the right to provide a cross into the box for Roberts, who just missed with a header.
However, it would be County who would end the first half in the ascendency.
They hit back five minutes before half-time through Demetriou who climbed highest to head home from a Rigg corner to level matters and they very nearly went into the break in front, with Robbie Willmott going agonisingly close with an effort that hit the angle of post and crossbar.
Newport then took the lead six minutes after the restart with a goal very similar to the first as Demetriou headed in from another Rigg corner.
Crawley sub Josh Payne rattled the woodwork with a free-kick, while Josh Yorwerth headed inches late on as they chased a leveller, but County held on to take the three points. Newport: J Day, D Pipe (S Bennett 62), B White, M O’Brien (D Butler 46), M Demetriou, R Willmott, J Labadie (capt), B Tozer, S Rigg, F Nouble, P Amond (M Dolan 90). Subs not used: J Bittner, L Reynolds, S McCoulsky, J Quigley.