Down and out in Newport (30.04.05)

A DESPERATE performance by United combined with Carshalton’s surprising victory at Eastbourne ultimately sent the Magpies down after just one season in the Conference South.
Newport, who were able to include Welsh international Jason Bowen after his suspension was cleared in their midweek Gwent Cup final win, started strongly in front of a season’s best crowd of 1,228, with Chris Taylor going close with a shot in the fourth minute.
United, already missing injury victims Kelvin McIntosh, Andre Fashanu, and Jamie Cook, who broke his foot on Friday after reportedly dropping a photocopier on it, then suffered a further blow after five minutes when Bryan Smith went off injured with broken ribs.
The Magpies’ difficulties were then exacerbated when Craig O’Connor took a knock which he was never really able to shake off.
In a tense half, with both sides too nervous of conceding to commit themselves wholeheartedly in the direction of the opposition goal, neither goalkeeper had much to do, aside from a great save by Adam Federici from the ever dangerous Taylor on the quarter-hour mark.
As the half-time break loomed Newport began to exert pressure on the Maidenhead defence, with Federici tipping a Lee Phillips header over the bar with two minutes to go.
Then in injury time, United twice failed to clear their lines allowing Bowen to pick up the loose ball and skip through the defence, beating Federici with a deft finish.
Meanwhile, in Sussex, Carshalton were beating Eastbourne as their opponents had by now heard Dorchester, their only potential rivals for the final play off spot, were getting thrashed at Sussex.
This only made things worse for the Magpies as it enabled Eastbourne to take it easy and look forward to their play-off on Tuesday.
With Carshalton extending their lead to four goals to one, Maidenhead’s relegation was virtually confirmed when Newport doubled their lead in the second half.
The goal came from a Phillips free-kick, which was met by the head of Jamie Moralee to make the score 2-0.
With the game all but lost, United made a desperate effort to get back into the game and were given a lifeline when the referee pointed to the penalty spot following an innocuous push on Lee Kersey.
O’Connor netted the spot kick with just seven minutes left on the clock.
Despite even Federici joining one attack, the Magpies created no further goalscoring opportunities and the final whistle soon blew to cue celebrations for the home fans as County had secured their own safety with the win.

SECOND BEST: Magpies midfielder Guy Ekwalla is beaten to the ball at Spytty Park on Saturday.
Picture by Nigel Keene.