Whitaker at double to keep Notts in the race

By Harry Porterfield

NEWPORT CO 0

NEWPORT: Townsend 5, McLoughlin 7, Baker 7, Brennan 6, Glennon 6, Martin 7 (Spellman 73, 6), Antwi 6, K.Evans 6, Ajiboye 6 (Whitmore 60, 6), Baker-Richardson 6, Kamwa 6. Subs not used: Webb, C.Evans, Clarke, Patten, Thomas.

NOT TS COUNTY 2

Whitaker 6, 63

NOTTS COUNTY: Slocombe 7, Bedeau 7, Platt 8, Macari 7 (Johnson 83, 6), Tsaroulla 8 (Gordon 73, 6), Palmer 7, Abbott 7, Jarvis 7 (Grant 73, 6), Jatta 7, McGoldrick 7 (Traore 72, 6), Whitaker 9. Subs not used: Perott, Hinchy, Edwards.

NOTTS County manager Stuart Maynard is ticking off the games after a comfortable win at Newport County kept his side right in the mix for automatic promotion.

The Magpies ended a difficult month on a high as two goals from Charlie Whitaker earned them victory at Rodney Parade and kept Maynard’s men sixth, just two points behind third-placed Port Vale with seven games to play.

After three defeats and two draws before this match, it was a welcome three points for the visitors against a side with an impressive home record this season.

“I think that t was a really big performance,” said Maynard. “A clean sheet is always pleasing butwemade it so comfortable. They didn’t really have any efforts at our goal, and we didn’t have anything defensively to worry about. And they’ve got the fifth-best home record in the league, so they’re a very good team at home.

“We’ve got seven games left and it’s another three points to play for on Wednesday, but MK Dons is going to be another really tough game.”

The 21-year-old Whitaker opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a confident finish into the bottom corner after being played through the middle of the Newport defence by Nick Tsaroulla.

David McGoldrick almost doubled the visitors’ lead and Tsaroulla was denied by Exiles goalkeeper Nick Townsend just before the break. Former Notts man Josh Martin twice went close for the hosts, but experienced striker McGoldrick showed his Premier League pedigree to tee up Whitaker for the second after 63 minutes.

The youngster beat Townsend with another sublime finish and, even though Courtney Baker-Richardson hit the bar from a corner soon afterwards, there was no way back for the hosts.

Newport dropped to 18th in the table and head coach Nelson Jardim admitted the better side won.

“We knew that this was going to be a tough game because we know the quality of Notts County,” said the Portuguese.

“They took their moments well and we had two or three chances we didn’t take. We should be proud of the effort but it was always going to be tough against a good team.

“For moments we made it hard for them and also showed we can play good football. It was just the decisions in the final third. Decision-making is what makes a huge difference.”