Rodney Parade Friday, July 27th, 2012   1st Team Friendly Attendance: 701       Newport County 2-2 Merthyr Town
2012 /13

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Newport County AFC V MERTHYR TOWN FC 7.45pm Friday 27th July 2012 2 - 2 Attendance: 701 (Away: 40) Result: 2 - 2 Venue: Home Competition: Friendly Referee: Mr. M. Whitby (Swansea) Sponsor's M.o.M: Jefferson Louis Goals: Louis, Harris A last minute goal from super-sub Jake Harris spared County’s blushes on an evening in which Garry Shephard’s Merthyr excelled. The vibrant Martyrs, boasting an array of ex Newport players, took the game to their hosts throughout and can consider themselves more than a tad unlucky not to have won. Indeed a golden opportunity to seal the victory was spurned only seconds before the Exiles raced back down the other end to equalise via the predatory Harris. Such is football I guess: County might then have even pinched it themselves when Jefferson Louis headed inches wide in injury time. However from a home perspective, a wake-up call may be no bad thing following the perhaps unrealistic expectancy bandied about after Tuesday night’s success over Bristol Rovers. With Justin Edinburgh enjoying a rare evening off, it was Jimmy Dack who took charge with County fielding a strong side minus the rested Danny Crow. That meant a start for new striker Aaron O’Connor, along with a second Exiles debut for the returning prodigal son in Michael Flynn. Amongst the familiar Merthyr ranks were old Newport lads in Gary Colbourne, Kris Leek, Ryan Newman, Steve Williams, Andrew Thomas, Ryan Dorrian, along with an absolute County legend in Nathan Davies. Aaron O’Connor had already created one gilt-edged opportunity before County drew first blood on 20 minutes, when Jefferson Louis scored his second Rodney Parade goal in as many games. Lee Minshull’s cross was only cleared as far as the big striker and Louis picked his spot with style, driving unerringly into the far corner of Giles Cutland’s net. That lead didn’t last too long sadly and fifteen minutes later, the Martyrs were deservedly level thanks to a quite exquisite finish from former Newport academy lad, Ryan Newman. Picking the ball up some 20 yards from goal, Newman curled a cracker past Joe Perry. Newman went one better on the hour, this time racing clear before rounding Perry and slotting home into the empty net. Having already had another goal disallowed, nobody could argue that Town were well worth their advantage. It looked like a famous victory was on the cards too, until that sniper-in-the-box Jake Harris popped up a minute from time: seizing upon a cross before rifling a lethal strike into the corner of the net. County: Perry, Pipe, Sandell, Hughes, James, Evans, Flynn, Minshull, O’Connor, Louis, Charles. Subs: Cooper, Porter, Swallow, Thomson, Fielden, Harris, Swann. Merthyr: Cutland, Williams, Traylor, Thomas, Rewbury, Colbourne, Davies, Harris, Prosser, Leek, Newman. Subs: Hitchcock, Griffiths, Welsh, Jones, Dorrian, Howe, Wearn.