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Newport Rely On Mountain Rescue
By Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey
24th March 2001
Newport County's ground staff worked overtime
to ensure that the game went ahead this afternoon. Following
days of rain the Spytty Road pitch resembled little more than
a bog, but with copious amounts of sand and forking the surface
was passed as playable.
Newport were quick out of the blocks, looking strong and
purposeful, they immediately put the Weymouth defence under
pressure and only a full stretch flying save from Potter
in the 12th minute denied Steve Benton.
From that point on it was Weymouth, adapting to the sticky
conditions they played the ball around well with Funnell
and JR controlling the centre of the park. On 16 minutes,
Funnell found Hale and his first time volley from a tight
angle flashed across the face of the goal.
Lee Phillips made a strong run down the right, checked
and sent across a low ball to Laws who's shot was parried
by Mountain in the Newport goal.
On 28 minutes Darren Rowbotham was up ended on the right
hand edge of the area, Gary Funnell stepped up to take the
free kick only to see it rebound off the underside of the
angle between crossbar and upright. Six minutes later and
JR beat a number of defenders on the edge of the box but
blazed his shot over the bar.
Mark Robinson was the next Terra to rattle the woodwork,
his snap shot on the edge of the area from a Mountain clearance
hit the left-hand upright, and right on half time Hale put
Phillips through but saw his shot saved by Mountain. Into
stoppage time and Phillips was once again through, this
time he tried to round the big keeper but an outstretched
hand foiled Weymouth's new signing.
Weymouth started the second half still in the ascendancy
and with only two minutes gone Rowbotham put Phillips through,
this time he beat the keeper only to see his shot hit the
post and roll across the front of the goalmouth.
Mark Robinson was caught by a very late challenge in the
55th minute and was replaced by Michael Dean, ten minutes
later Hutchinson replaced Gary Funnell.
Newport had more of the play but could not put a constructive
attack together in front of goal. Their only real effort
was from Matthew Rose whose shot flew high and wide of the
mark in the 70th minute.
Ten minutes later from a Waldock throw in; Rowbotham made
space just outside the area and put Phillips through on
goal, his well-drilled shot was pushed away by Mountain.
From the curling corner by JR, Mountain managed to push
the ball onto his cross bar.
Throughout the game Weymouth's three front runners consistently
foiled the home sides off side trap but was thwarted by
some very poor linesmanship, dare I say, we all make mistakes
but some of the decisions were bordering on cheating.
Weymouth continued to push forward and into injury time
Laws broke through, ran to the by line but his cross across
the face of goal failed to make contact with any Weymouth
foot, so at the final whistle the score was:
Newport County 0 Weymouth 0
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