Late show lifts U’s to play-off contention

By Andrew Penman

NEWPORT COUNTY 0

NEWPORT: Townsend 5, Thomas 6, Clarke 6, Baker 6, Driscoll-Glennon 6 (Evans 62, 6), Whitmore 7, Brennan 6, Antwi 6 (Hudlin 71, 6), Ajiboye 6 (Spellman 81), Baker-Richardson 7, Kamwa 6. Subs not used: Webb, Warner, Patten.

COLCHESTER UTD 2

Kelleher 88, Scully 90+4

COLCHESTER: Macey 7, Egbo 7, Kelleher 8, Flanagan 6, Iandolo 8, McDonnell 7, Read 7, Thorn 7 (Lisbie 67, 6), Taylor 7 (Simpson 11, 6), Edwards 7, Tovide 6 (Scully 67, 7). Subs not used: Smith, Hunt, Tucker.

Att: 3,899 Rating: ★★★★★ Ref: Richard Eley 6/10

COLCHESTER manager Danny Cowley praised his side’s never-say-die attitude as they scored twice late on to beat Newport to stay in the play-off hunt.

The U’s looked to be heading for a damaging draw, but Fiacre Kelleher and Anthony Scully’s late goals – saved their blushes.

“It was a brilliant finish and a great win, but I’ve had easier Saturdays,” joked Cowley, who saw experienced forward Lyle Taylor stretchered off in the 12th minute.

“We had a brilliant start to the game and then lost Lyle to what looks like a serious injury, and that affected everyone because he’s such an important part of our group.

“But I was proud of the re-silience we showed, we kept going and ultimately ended up winning the game.”

The victory leaves Cowley’s men just one point below Grimsby with four games to play.

He added: “It’s not for us to get too excited – there will be lots of twists and turns, that’s for sure.

“Our task is to stay focused on trying to perform.”

The visitors had started brightly, going close through Arthur Read, Oscar Thorn and Samson Tovide before Taylor was stretchered off in the 12th minute.

County then enjoyed the better chances as David Ajiboye and Kai Whitmore forced Matt Macey into smart saves before the break and Ajiboye crashed a shot against the outside of a post in the second half.

But Colchester could not afford to settle for a point and there was a warning for the home side at the other end when former Exiles academy star Owura Edwards poked a shot just off target.

Kelleher headed in Mandela Egbo’s free-kick to break the deadlock in the 88th minute at Rodney Parade before substi-tute Sc a vital victory in stoppage time, finishing off a counter-attack led by Edwards. Exiles head coach Nelson Jardim felt his side were hard done by after Kai Whitmore went close several times and David Ajiboye hit the post in the second half.

He said: “It was very difficult to take – overall if you had to choose the better team it was the one that lost, but football is like that.

“A point would have been a fair result.

“I told the boys that they let themselves down because it came down to two moments and set plays again – we are trying to get those things sorted, but always struggle.”