Newport surrendered a two goal lead in the final minutes as they were held to their 16th draw of the season by Blackfield at St George’s Park
Newport made four changes from the side that started on Saturday. Blackfield included former Newport player, Ryan Oatley, in their starting line up
Blackfield kicked off attacking the Shide end and although they started off looking the better side, as the game progressed, Newport began to match them in terms of possession and attacking play.
A loose ball intercepted by Jared Wetherick set up a Newport attack that ended when Aiden Sainsbury just shot over from twenty yards. Another Newport break finished when Connor Kelly drove in a low cross from the right but Aiden Sainsbury shot straight at Brad Snelling.
Blackfield were reduced to ten men on 37 minutes when Steve Walker was shown a red card for stamping which also saw Jared Wetherick receive a yellow card.
From a corner, a Blackfield corner narrowly went wide of the post. It was an entertaining first half that just lacked a goal.
Half Time:Newport 0 Blackfield 0
Blackfield made a half time substitution bringing on Owen Hurst in place of Luke Winsper. Keelan Walsh received a yellow card for a foul on Harrison Fay. Newport had started the second half looking the better side and Joe Butcher outpaced the defence but lost out in a one to one with the keeper.
On 55 minutes, Newport broke the deadlock when Joe Butcher broke down the left then drove in a low cross that eluded everybody except Connor Kelly at the far post who blasted it into the net from close range.
Newport extended their lead on 68 minutes when Connor Kelly raced through on goal and although originally he was thwarted by a defender, the ball broke loose and he was able to guide it into the net.
Newport too were reduced to ten men when Keelan Sainsbury, who had only been on the field for seven minutes, was involved in a midfield fracas with Jordan Ngalo. The equalisation of numbers inspired Blackfield who desperately tried to reduce the deficit and from a corner, Kane Daysh rose above everybody at the far post but headed straight into Gary Streeter’s hands. Newport’s second substitution saw Connor Kelly replaced by Caleb Charlesworth.
The lead was reduced on 85 minutes when a 25 yard freekick from Manni Soetan gave Gary Streeter no chance. As the clock approached 90 minutes, Blackfield scored the equaliser from a throw in. The Newport defence failed to clear the ball which fell to Sam Poole who rifled the ball into the net from about 15 yards.
Certainly the performance was considerably better than the previous two matches but it was two points squandered for Newport as they remain in twelfth place. For Blackfield a draw puts pay to any outside chance of challenging Moneyfields.
Final Score: Newport 2 Blackfield 2
Newport: Streeter, Harmer, Newbold, A Sainsbury, Pearce , West, Wetherick, Walsh (K Sainsbury), Triggs, Kelly (Charlesworth), Butcher.
Blackfield & Langley: Snelling, Ngalo, Oatley, Walker, Poole, Hoare, Winsper (Hurst), Daysh, Jackson, Soetan, Fry.
Referee : Jake Topp Attendance 68