Newport IOW (0 - 1) Win City
Newport 0 Winchester City 1
It is always difficult playing a mid-week game away to Newport and injuries and unavailability forced Manager Paul Masters to take a changed squad to the Island on Tuesday 10th March 2015.
Newport started well and City conceded a few free kicks but defended well from the off. It was City, however, who looked the most dangerous, a header from a corner was kicked off the line in a melee of players and then Zack Glasspool put in a long range shot. The ball appeared to be heading straight for the well placed Warren Bentley but was intercepted.
As City pressed Micky Hubbard beat the 'keeper with an angled shot that unfortunately ran across the face of the goal and wide of the far post.
City took the lead right on half time when Liam Robinson shot from close range and the ball took a deflection stranding the Newport 'keeper for an own goal.
Winchester came under pressure early in the second half and in the 63rd minute Ryan Hollway replaced Adam Tomasso to add fresh legs to the defence.
Both sides then created chances, Bentley went on a penalty box run but lost the ball and at the other end Gareth Barfoot pulled off a good save.
The game deteriorated into a rather scrappy affair with both sides picking up yellow cards as the Referee effectively stopped the flow of the match with neither side being able to play constructive football.
City’s second substitution in the 68th minute saw Stuart Green came on into midfield to give Hubbard a rest.
With time running out Newport had two more chances to salvage a point, Barfoot again made a good save and the other chance was spurned.
City's defence came out of the game with a great deal of credit and thanks largely to them City have now moved into a promotion spot.
City: Gareth Barfoot, Adam Tomasso, Dominic Cope, Micky Hubbard, Jaimie Thoroughgood, Luke Dempsey, Adam Roberts, Chris Mason, Zack Glasspool, Warren Bentley, Liam Robinson, Stuart Green, Danilo Cadete, Callum Casson Ryan Holloway.
