JARDIM’S JOY AFTER EARLY EVANS GOAL KICK-STARTS ROUT OF TOWN

By Andrew Penman

NEWPORT CO 3

Evans 2, Baker-Richardson 15, Clarke 61

NEWPORT: Townsend 8, Evans 9, Clarke 8, Baker 8, Thomas 7, Brennan 7, Kamwa 6, McLoughlin 8, Driscoll-Glennon 8, Baker-Richardson 8, Ajiboye 6 (Spellman 80, 6). Subs not used: Webb, Warner, Mawene, Whitmore, Evans, Martin.

HARROGATE 0

HARROGATE: Belshaw 5, Sims 7, O’Connor 6, Moon 6, Burrell 6, Morris 7, Fox 7, Taylor 6, Cornelius 6 (Cursons 64, 6), Daly 6, March 6. Subs not used: Oxley, Gibson, Akono Bilongo, Solomon, Daly, Sanderson.

Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Jamie O’Connor 7/10

NELSON Jardim saluted his Newport County side after putting Harrogate Town to the sword in south Wales.

Goals from Cameron Evans, Courtney Baker-Richardson and James Clarke enabled the Exiles to cruise to victory and put an end to the Sulphurites’ recent revival.

“The win means a lot for the club and also a lot for me,” said Jardim.

“It was a tough week for everyone [they lost 5-0 at Accrington last time out] and the head coach always feels a stronger pain when the team loses in that way. We know this

group of players very well and the reaction they showed we expected.

“Now we can look forward and we have 46 points, 16 clear of relegation, and now we can really say that we are in the comfort zone that we spoke about in the first week of the season. We can be positive and look forward, we have nine games to go and lots of points to play for.”

There were just 90 seconds on the clock when Evans headed in Shane McLoughlin’s corner from close range.

County doubled their advantage after 15 minutes from another corner – this time delivered by Anthony Glennon from the right. Baker-Richardson claimed the goal as the ball was bundled in from close range, possibly via a defender.

Josh March, Ellis Taylor and Anthony O’Connor missed chances to claw a goal back for the visitors before the break.

And former Newport midfielder Bryn Morris hit the bar with a free-kick five minutes after half-time.

But County captain Clarke made sure of the three points in the 61st minute when he rifled a shot into the roof of the net after Bobby Kamwa’s overhead effort was well saved by James Belshaw. Harrogate manager

Simon Weaver was angered by the fact that all three goals came from corners – the first after just 90 seconds. “It’s really disappointing,” he said.

“We worked on all their routines and went through each individual’s role, but defensively from corners we didn’t turn up.

Credit to them. They got hammered 5-0and the reaction from their perspective was very good.”

Harrogate are 10 points clear of the bottom two in 21st, but Weaver knows they are not safe yet.

“We’ve got to react now and I’d be very surprised if we don’t do that,” he added. “Hopefully the supporters are with us and cheering us on.”