County gave away a last-minute winner to promotion rivals
Kidderminster Harriers at Rodney Parade, a result that saw them miss the chance
to close the gap on top spot in the Blue Square Premier. Meanwhile, the Bay
went down 3-0 at home to Halifax as they continue to fight against relegation
from the Blue Square North.
The Exiles welcomed Kidderminster to south Wales knowing
they could close the gap on leaders Mansfield to five points as their game at Wrexham had fallen foul to the weather.
But a win for the visitors would see them top, so both sides went for the
jugular.
County will be delighted to see top scorer Aaron O’Connor
back from injury, but neither he, Lee Minshull or Christian Jolley could find
the back of the net. Michael Gash then gave the Harriers the lead from Anthony
Malbon’s cross.
Andy Sandell equalised within four minutes, firing through a
crowded penalty area, but they could not put the ball past visiting ‘keeper
Danny Lewis a second time. Jolley hit the post, and Lewis saved from him from
point blank range, before Cheyenne Dunkley was first to a rebound in the final
moments after the ball had hit the crossbar to break home hearts.
Despite the late drama, Newport boss Justin Edinburgh was in
buoyant mood, saying: “This is one game ticked off out of 12 and we’ve got
another one on Thursday. We haven’t really got time to reflect or feel sorry
for ourselves. We’ve just got to chalk up as many wins as we can from these 11
games.
“On another night, after creating so many chances, this
could easily have been a victory for us.”
Newport have decided to boost their squad for the run in by
signing former Bristol Rovers right back Michael Boateng from Blue Square South
side Sutton United on a short-term deal.
He watched his new team last night, who ate up one of their
games in hand over Mansfield and Wrexham, and adds extra depth to a side facing
12 games before April 20.
“I’ve signed until the end of the season with a view to
[signing] a new deal [then],” he said. “Hopefully it all goes well and I can
stay here for a long time.”
Boateng’s signing will provide a silver lining for the club,
alongside promotion rivals Grimsby’s 1-0 loss at Nuneaton.
Colwyn Bay player/manager
Frank Sinclair believed that certain players “let everybody down” as his side
crashed to their third straight defeat.
Had it not been for goalkeeper Chris Sanna the scoreline
could have been far worse, and Sinclair was far from pleased with what he saw
on the day he learned he faces a five-match ban for his third red card of the
season in Saturday’s loss to Altrincham.
“It’s worrying that we’ve not been ourselves over the last
couple of games,” he said. “We’ve not shown the belief that we have had in the
previous games and there are a few questions I have to ask myself about certain
performances.
“We’re better than that [performance], and I’ve got to try
and drive these boys forward because there are still 33 points to play for,
which is a lot of points.
“We don’t want to just pack [it] in. I’ve said to the boys
it is too important. It’s important to the club and to me as the new player/manager,
and it’s got to be as important to them as well. It’s got to be life or death
every time they walk out onto that grass - and I’m demanding that out of them.
“But I believe in them 100 per cent, and it’s up to me to
get the best out of them.”
Lee Gregory had put the visitors 1-0 up in the first-half,
and just 25 seconds in to the second, Dan Gardner sent Gareth Seddon away to
round Sanna and make it 2-0. Chris Worsley later added a third.
The result leaves the Seagulls still four points from
safety. The team above them, Corby, are playing Solihull Moors at home tonight
(March 20) and will be looking to stretch the gap to seven points.
Sinclair added that with himself missing five games, he may try
and bring in cover before the signing deadline next Thursday (March 28).
Merthyr Town continue
their promotion push in the Evo-Stik League Southern Division One South &
West tonight with a trip to Taunton Town.
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