Advertisement

Too little, too late for County after Forest Green edge EFL Trophy clash

TUSSLE: Forward Will Evans battles for the ball for County
TUSSLE: Forward Will Evans battles for the ball for County

NEWPORT County AFC failed to get an EFL Trophy pick-me-up after being beaten 2-1 by Forest Green Rovers at Rodney Parade.

The Exiles headed into the clash on the back of League Two defeats to Stevenage and Barrow, keen for a morale-booster ahead of Saturday’s key clash with Carlisle.

However, it was Rovers that moved to the brink of qualification from the group with victory courtesy of Ben Stevenson’s curled effort after 68 minutes and a slammed finish by Bryan Fiabema with 12 to go.

Will Evans prodded in from close range in injury time but there was no last-gasp drama, despite goalkeeper Joe Day sprinting to the other box for a corner and free-kick.

County, who won their opener at Exeter in the much-maligned competition, still have a chance to make the knockout stages with victory against Southampton Under-21s in mid-October but the focus is getting up the table in League Two.

It goes without saying but manager James Rowberry really needs a win against the Cumbrians on Saturday, the processes and performance doesn’t matter.

Declan Drysdale battling for the ball

Recent meetings with Rovers have been tussles between promotion rivals but this time both sides were hoping for a morale boost ahead of key league encounters.

County wanted to build to Carlisle after their horror show against Barrow while Forest Green wanted to build up a head of steam after finding themselves struggling at the bottom of the third tier.

Rowberry once again went strong in the competition with academy prospects having to bide their time and earn action.

There were two survivors from the weekend – Cameron Norman and Thierry Nevers – with places for Carlisle very much up for grabs.

County started in a 3-5-2 with captain Matty Dolan as a left-sided central defender rather than at the heart of a three.

They were close to falling behind inside a minute when a Regan Hendry corner was headed against Joe Day’s right post by Harvey Bunker.

County responded with some pressure of their own from set plays but Rovers emerged unscathed from three corners in quick succession.

Chelsea loanee Fiabema thought he was in on goal in the 21st minute but was denied by a timely challenge by James Clarke, referee Lee Swabey correctly waving away a gentle enquiry for a penalty from the Rovers forward.

County were riding their luck at the back with Drysdale getting away with a poor couple of moments when Reece Brown fired straight at Day and then he stood up to Fiebema in a one-on-one, the forward then fouling Clarke after trying to go around the ‘keeper.

It was goalless after half an hour but Forest Green continued to look the more fluent in attack against an Exiles side that was disconnected between back and front.

Just like in the EFL Trophy opener in Devon, it was 0-0 at the break and County stuck with the starters for the second half but with Clarke at the heart of the defensive three after swapping with Drysdale.

Day was soon into the action with a solid stop at his near post from Fiabema and a strong punch from the resulting corner.

County had a much better spell to pose some questions in the final third, albeit without testing Rovers stopper Lewis Thomas.

It then took superb work by Day to keep it 0-0 after 54 minutes when he backtracked well to prevent a cross drifting in, saved with his feet from Hendry and then reacted sharply to reach back and stop the ball looping in.

Rowberry looked to chase the game in the final third when he brought on the fresh legs of Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Lewis Collins and influential striker Omar Bogle, who immediately made his presence felt up top.

However, they were soon charged with chasing the game after Stevenson curled in a shot from the edge of the area that gave Day no chance.

County had 20 minutes to at least earn a point with the possibility of another from a penalty shootout.

There were chances at both ends with Bogle heading wide from a corner before Hendry and Bunker went close to making it 2-0.

Will Evans put the ball into the net for County only to be denied by the offside flag and then Moriah-Welsh somehow slammed against the bar after being played in by Collins and Evans.

Forest Green celebrate hitting the front

That miss was soon followed by Fiabema’s clincher, the Norwegian slamming in after Drysdale had gifted away possession.

Bogle thought he had set up a late charge but, like Collins, was disappointed to see the flag go up and then Corey O’Keeffe hit the bar for the visitors as 90 approached.

Then Evans struck when he followed up Bogle’s shot, which Lewis Thomas failed to gather, but the final whistle followed straight after a Dolan free-kick went into the side netting.

County: Day, Norman, Clarke, Dolan (captain), Drysdale, Aaron Lewis, Willmott, Bowen (Moriah-Welsh 62), Evans, Nevers (Collins 56), Zimba (Bogle 62).

Substitutes not used: Townsend, Adam Lewis, Bennett, Waite.

Goal: Evans.

Forest Green: Thomas, O’Keeffe, Casey, Stevenson, Hendry (captain), Jones, McAllister, Fiabema, Davis, Bunker, Brown.

Substitutes: McGee, Bernard, Moore-Taylor, O’Brien, Peart-Harris, Bell.

Yellow: Brown.

Goals: Stevenson, Fiabema.

Referee: Lee Swabey.