Woe in Wales

By: Andrew Doherty
Date: 26/09/2026

LAST week the party line from Head Coach Artell and player interviewee Geza Turi was to talk up Crawley. Other than showing respect, this was pointless as the matter was in our own hands. In practice and as hoped Town were vastly superior but not for the first time this season we managed to give them a ray of hope.

Today's opponents Newport are in an expected lowly position. To their credit they have recruited well, with Newportonian and ex Forest Green and Hibs playmaker Christian Doidge, and Shaquille Gwengwe, a hitherto unknown striker from Poole Town proving good additions. Newport seems to be a place where Town struggle, with just one win in our last thirteen visits. If we can manage to produce performances like the first half against Accrington and Crawley, the second half at Cheltenham and the whole of the Bristol Rovers game where we kept our focus, then we shouldn't be psychologically building ourselves up to worrying about the opposition. We knew in advance we were going to be without Turi owing to international duty with the Faroe Islands, and Andy Cook is still recovering from injury. But we have the number and there are signs we have the quality. At the same time we do rely on our experienced and inexperienced players to perform in a composed manner on our own international weekend here in South Wales.

Today was a nice easy trip for me as Rodney Parade is the nearest league ground to where I live. By contrast it wasn't so easy for most Town supporters, of whom there was 476 here today in the crowd of 4,940. At least most of the players weren't involved at Notts County in the Cup of Futility and Pointlessness during the week, and those who were "needed the minutes" so at least it served that purpose. Town's starting XI today was: Pym - Rodgers, Kacurri, McJannet, Sweeney - Cartwright, Green, Shelton, Walker, Vernam - Morgan. Cook was on the bench. It was a sunny and warm afternoon. Town wore their black and white kit today, while Newport were in their customary amber.

After the announcer who sounded decidedly English, had geed up the home crowd, Town kicked off, facing the empty end. After 3 minutes Town won a corner. Former Mariner Jordan Wright was forced to tip away Sweeney's jnswinger. On 9 minutes Rodgers did well to deny Jacob following a long clearance by Wright. Finley-Dias received a yellow card for a cynical foul on Walker. The fouls didn't end there as Newport disrupted any rhythm Town sought to gain. Newport looked to be taking advantage of the wet patch at the Town end, firing balls up for the rapid Adu-Poku, who on 15 minutes beat McJannet for pace. But neither side was getting a grip. This was a game of fouls. Green laid off nicely to Rodgers on 16 minutes and Town had a corner. Morgan found space but aimed his shot at Wright. Adu-Poki beat Sweeney on 23 minutes and crossed. Doidge took the ball of the foot of Gwengwe who was poised to volley. On 30 minutes McJannet fended off Adu-Poku after a ball from Biggins. From the corner Jacobs found Cameron's head but it was a poor effort. Newport were closing down every Town attack with solid marking and an effective offside trap. It was a struggle. On 37 minutes Reynolds replaced the injured Shelton. Two minutes later Walker won possession in midfield. Morgan's direction was good but the power wasn't. At the other end Rodgers stopped Gwengwe who was bearing down on goal. Adu-Poku had a shot from the resultant corner but it was terrible. After a bit of handbags with the vocal Buggins, Kacurri sent Green away with a lovely pass but not for the first time Newport sprung the offside trap. Five minutes were added to this uninspiring half. Town played the ball around but were unable to penetrate the defence. Vernam had a chip which went wide. Biggins had a shot which didn't reach the goal line. This summed up the half. At half time it was 0 - 0. Neither keeper had been tested. Town needed pace, guile and energy. None of these qualities had been in evidence in the first half.

On 52 minutes after a languid start Vernam played a neat chip to Sweeney on the left. Sweeney crossed low to the advancing Green. Wright pulled Green down. No penalty in the referee's eyes. A trademark Vernam shuffle led to a shot but the important bit was forgotten and the ball trickled to Wright. On 57 minutes Town had the ball but after hesitation by Reynolds and a slip by McJannet, Norman gained possession and found Doidge in space. Doidge clinically struck a neat low shot to Pym's right. Newport 1, Town 0. We hoped it would be a wake-up call. Here, I foresaw, was the classic Artell interview in which he says we did x, y and z in defence of us failing to win the game. In fact Newport were dominating us with their physical play, discipline and direct attacks. On 59 minutes Cook and Finch replaced Morgan and Cartwright. On 62 minutes after another possession-losing piece of hesitation by Reynolds, Adu-Poku once again raced forward, but great positional play by McJannet cut out the threat. The ball was punted back up to Cook who received a yellow card for a heavy challenge on Wright. Newport went on the offensive again. Instead of pressing for an equaliser, Town were on the back foot. On 68 minutes Adu-Poku best Sweeney and won a corner. A succession of Newport corners followed.A corner was sent in from the left. Brennan headed the ball back in from the far post for Gwengwe to finish. Newport 2, Town 0. On 73 minutes Amaluzor and Staunton replaced Vernam and Sweeney. On 79 minutes Adu-Poku caused more havoc and found Biggins whose shot was powerful and low. Pum made a great save and followed up with another. Following the corner a deft nod on by Amaluzor set up a Town attack. Town went forward in numbers. Finch received the ball in the box but his touch was appalling. It was Newport who looked more likely to score. Town were all at sea. The tireless Adu-Poku had another run which Town desperately defended. Town just didn't look like scoring …, on 82 minutes Amaluzor received the ball on the right and fired the ball towards Wright, who fumbled it and allowed the ball to slip behind him over the line. Well that was one way of doing it. Newport 2, Town 1. The Town fans behind the goal duly provided feedback to ex-Mariner Wright about his goalkeeping skills. Town broke after another Newport attack on 85 minutes. Finch's cross ball to Cook was devoid of accuracy or composure. Staunton then provided a probing cross which found Rodgers whose contribution was to balloon the ball over the stand. A nice move followed but in spite of Town getting the ball near the goal no-one could squeeze it in before the ball came back to Staunton who lost control. 8 minutes were added. Town were spurred on initially, winning a free kick on the right. But Newport looked the more likely to score after Thomas cleared to Bamba before Staunton intervened. The damage was done. Newport were playing like a side with confidence. We laboured. The game ended: Newport County 2, Grimsby Town 1. The bubble has burst.

Once again we came unstuck at Rodney Parade. We simply weren't up for the fight. Instead of us kicking on at half time, it was Newport who realised that they were quicker than us and could use their physicality to gain advantage. In response our decision-making was poor, and it all smacked of desperation. It strikes me that Cartwright, Reynolds and Finch are not ready for this level while Vernam and to a lesser extent Walker continue to be below par. On the other hand, Green, Morgan, Kacurri and McJannet showed the spirit we need to show but all in all we didn't play well enough to win today. If we can't manage physicality or pace then we won't be going far. Today was a tale of woe from which Head Artell will undoubtedly learn lessons which in turn need drilling into the players.

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