Newport Pagnell Town returned to competitive action on Saturday for the first time since their impressive FA Vase Win at Wembley Stadium.
The Swans started the game brightly, from the start they put Desborough under pressure and it did not take long before this approach paid dividends.
Albie Hall combined well with Jake Watkinson, he played the ball back to Kieran Barnes who calmly opened the scoring from the edge of the box with a well-placed side foot shot [1-0, 9 mins]. The Newport team were producing some good interchanging passing and created another good chance when Shane Bush found Watkinson who, in turn, found Jake Newman whose shot sailed just over the crossbar. Shortly after Watkinson was played through the middle but Adam Honour was quickly off his line to thwart the striker.
The chances were coming thick and fast for the hosts as Newman, Russell Short, Barnes and Christian Smail all had good chances to extend the lead. With time running out in the first period Newman had a strong shot saved, Hall was quickest to the loose ball but he was denied a debut goal as his shot was cleared off the line. There was still time for Smail to have a shot blocked as Desborough held on for the break.
The second half was a different affair as Desborough took the game to Newport and put their hosts under immediate pressure. Iain Blaikie flashed a dangerous cross across the face of the goalmouth after good run down the left, luckily for the Swans there was nobody on hand to convert. Alex Webb then fired a free kick wide from the edge of the D as Desborough grew in confidence. However, Newport responded well and came close when Ben Ford’s bicycle kick sailed just over the crossbar. Hall had the next chance, with no time to react, the ball hit him and went harmlessly straight into the keeper’s arms.
A Barnes free kick was flicked across goal by Bush to Watkinson who, under pressure, could only manage to shoot over from close range. Desborough continued to pose a threat, Dan Willett did well to push Blaikie’s header against the post and away to safety. This was only a brief respite, a minute later the striker got the reward his play deserved, latching onto a loose clearance before smashing in the equaliser [1-1, 65 mins].
The goal stirred Newport into action, they stepped up to the mark and started to dictate play. With fifteen minutes remaining Ford’s shot was pushed around the post by Honour and it was Bush, on his debut, who powered his header home from the resultant corner to re-establish Newport’s lead [2-1, 75 mins]. The Swans put the result beyond doubt in added on time, Cameron Cook found Barnes in space and his cross was inadvertently directed into the net by Billy Tebbatt as he attempted to clear the danger [3-1, 90+2 mins].
Match Report by: Andy Gunn
Comments