County happy to be draw specialists after battling for third away point on spin

NEWPORT County AFC bagged a hard-earned point on the road for the third game on the spin after a goalless draw with in-form Colchester in League Two.

The Exiles headed to Essex after sharing the spoils with a pair of promotion hopefuls in Notts County and AFC Wimbledon.

They withstood intense pressure from Colchester, who are now eight unbeaten, in the first half and late on to leave with something to show for their efforts.

It was a precious and hard-earned point against a U’s side who are stronger than their position just behind the Exiles suggests.

Head coach Nelson Jardim took 17 games to record his first Newport draw and, while naturally he would love a few maximum hauls, he will be content to have kept the league total ticking along with points in Nottingham, Wimbledon and Colchester.

That ensures the Exiles are in a steady position to hunt some three-pointers over the hectic festive period.

BATTLE: County striker Kyle Hudlin competes for the ball (Image: Nicola Johns/Huw Evans Agency)

County named an unchanged XI from the 2-2 draw at AFC Wimbledon but the bench was boosted by the returns after hamstring injuries of winger Bobby Kamwa, who had missed two games, and Preston midfielder Noah Mawene, who had been out since mid-October.

The Exiles started confidently on the ball and a patient attack led to the first opening in the sixth minute only for the defence to get out quickly to deflect Cameron Antwi’s shot from the edge of the area behind.

The midfielder had the second chance in the ninth minute when he sidefooted, again from the edge of the area, after Shane McLoughlin and Bryn Morris combined down the left but the shot was blocked.

It was a strong start by the Exiles but they almost fell behind in the 12th minute when a Mandela Egbo cross was deflected, Matt Baker swung his left leg, missed the ball and it went a yard wide of Nick Townsend’s right post.

That was swiftly followed by another close save with dangerman Jack Payne smashing a swerving shot from distance that burst through the hands of the County goalkeeper, who got just enough contact to deflect over his bar.

It remained goalless after half an hour but Colchester had wrestled the momentum and forced the Exiles into some strong defending, particularly from set plays.

Former Newport academy member Owura Edwards wasted the best chance of note when shooting into the side-netting from a tight angle down the left, Egbo hit a cross narrowly over and the defence had to be alert to put in strong blocks from Payne and Arthur Read (Matt Baker and Michael Spellman).

It was one-way traffic as the on-song and confident U’s piled on the pressure, with captain McLoughlin saving the day when on the spot in the 40th minute.

A corner was swung in from the left and defender Tom Flanagan had won an aerial challenge with striker Kyle Hudlin at the far post but the Irishman cleared from under his bar.

County were on the ropes as half-time approached but safely made it to the whistle for a breather and potentially some tactical tweaks.

That did happen, with Jardim also turning to his bench with the introduction of Kamwa and Anthony Glennon for right-back Joe Thomas and winger Geoffroy Bony.

Kamwa was a direct replacement for Bony down the right, Glennon came on at left-back with McLoughlin switching sides.

County were fast out of the blocks with Spellman firing a shot from distance in that Matt Macey parried, then Colchester responded with a Payne effort that Townsend got down to his right to hold.

The game then had a cagey spell – which suited the Exiles – and the hour passed without either ‘keeper being forced into a more serious action, although that was only thanks to alert defending by Ciaran Brennan at the near post after Glennon was caught ball-watching to allow Colchester in down the right.

County had a lucky escape in the 68th minute when Matt Baker lost possession, Samson Tovide got a toe in but Townsend scooped up the ball; the goalkeeper did well not to rush out rashly and clatter the striker.

Jardim turned to his bench again with 20 to go when introducing Mawene and striker Luke Jephcott, with the latter promptly denied by strong defending when he made a near-post run to try and get onto a Kamwa cross.

All three results were possible as the game went into the 80s, although Colchester were starting to look the more likely as 90 approached with substitute Lyle Taylor adding threat up top.

Several Exiles injuries meant that a minimum of seven minutes were to be added with Jardim making his final change by bringing on defender Kyle Jameson, who won the last-gasp penalty at Wimbledon, for winger Spellman.

Colchester had a big chance in the sixth minute of added time when a cross deflected up for Taylor to volley but Brennan blocked superbly.

That defensive spirit ensured that County continue to quickly keep building, with the hope of three points when they finally get back on home soil against MK Dons next weekend.

County: Townsend; Thomas (Glennon HT), Brennan, Baker, McLoughlin (captain), Morris, K Evans, Bony (Kamwa HT), Antwi (Mawene 71), Spellman (Jameson 90), Hudlin (Jephcott 71).

Substitutes not used: Carney, Clarke.

Yellow: McLoughlin, Morris.

Attendance: 4,046.