Report, highlights and reaction: Newport County 5-3 Morecambe

Morecambe couldn’t complete another away day comeback as the Shrimps fell to defeat in South Wales in a pulsating League Two encounter.

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Morecambe had the best of the early exchanges, with David Tutonda blasting over a shot from 25 yards and Ged Garner nearly poking home after Newport goalkeeper Nick Townsend couldn’t hold onto Gwion Edwards’ cross from the right.

Edwards’ deliveries were wreaking havoc for Newport, and a free kick from the left delivered another chance after the home side made a mess of clearing it, but Garner again failed to make clean contact.

Despite Morecambe’s bright start, it was the home side that took the lead. Former Shrimp Aaron Wilding got onto the end of Lewis Payne’s low cross into the area to turn home past Archie Mair.

The home side doubled their lead when Bryn Morris drifted out to the right and crossed to the back post for Adam Lewis, who arrived late and stroked the ball home.

Ged Brannan’s team slowly regained their footing and Gwion Edwards continued to look dangers. The winger came within inches of his first Morecambe team when he found space on the edge of the area and lashed a strike against the crossbar.

Only minutes later, Edwards had his goal. Jordan Slew was found in midfield and he threaded a great ball forward to his fellow winger, who beat one man, made it into the area, and smashed the ball into the back of the net.

Mair was called into action before the half with a string hand required to keep out Harry Charsley’s long-range drive. A few minutes later, the goalkeeper had to pull out a lovely dummy to escape pressure and keep his side on the front foot.

There was time for one more chance and it fell to Will Evans of Newport in the final minute of added time at the end of the half. The home side’s top goalscorer got on the end of a cross from the left but couldn’t turn it towards goal.

The second period started slowly, with neither side getting a grip on proceedings.

Newport had looked the more dangerous, however, and they restored their two-goal lead within eight minutes. The two goalscorers combined for the third, with Adam Lewis’ cross finding Aaron Wildig, who finished brilliantly past Mair.

Jordy Hiwula was introduced to try and add a spark to the Morecambe attack and he nearly did so when he got onto the end of an Edwards cross and flicked the ball towards goal. A strong stop on the line was the only thing that prevented the net from bulging.

No later than Hiwula had realised he hadn’t scored, Newport had countered, and a strong save from Mair was required to keep his team in the game.

Morecambe heeded the warning and piled on the pressure. A succession of corners seemed to come to nothing until Ged Garner clashed with Newport ‘keeper Townsend and the ball tumbled loose. Chris Stokes pounced onto the loose ball and prodded home to get his team within one goal.

Ged Brannan’s side have made a name for themselves as comeback kings, particularly on the road, and they lived up to this when Gwion Edwards levelled things up only minutes later.

Joe Adams did some genuinely spectacular work on the halfway line to hold onto the ball and then threaded a perfect pass into Jordy Hiwula down the left. His shot was deflected by Townsend and Gwion Edwards scored the easiest goal of his life, nodding home from one-yard to draw level.

Edwards was having a wonderful game, but he should have had his hat trick when another rebound fell to him in the area. Hiwula came down the right this time and his shot was palmed into the box. Edwards tried to adjust but fired awkwardly over the goal from 12 yards.

He was made to regret that miss almost immediately when, only a minute later, Newport were back in front. Another attack down the right resulted in a cross. Zanzala received the ball and tapped it off to Harry Charsley, who whipped a shot into the far corner.

Hiwula had made a huge impact since coming on but missed a golden chance to equalise when he got on the end of Tutonda’s cross but could only put it straight at the goalkeeper from 6 yards out. Ged Garner then came close with a volley after another cross from the left as Morecambe pushed to equalise again.

Offrende Zanzala had the opportunity to put the game to bed when he powered forward on the counter, but Jacob Bedeau made a brilliant challenge to halt the attack. The Newport substitute then got on the end of a throw-in and thus time Archie Mair had to be alert to keep him out.

Despite the best efforts of Ged Brannan’s men, they conceded a fifth late in stoppage time. Men were committed forward for a wide free-kick and an unfortunate slip left Newport substitute Sebastian Palmer-Houlden with the freedom of the Morecambe half and he turned home confidently to secure the victory.

Newport County: Townsend, Bennett ©, Jameson, Baker, Payne, Lewis, Wildig (Waite, 89’), Morris, Charsley, Jephcott (Zanzala, 66’), Evans (Palmer-Houlden, 66’).

Subs not used: Maxted, Drysdale, Bright, Bondswell.

Goals: Wildig (12’, 54’), Lewis (18’), Charsley (78’), Palmer-Houlden (90+6’).

Bookings: Wildig, Evans, Jameson.

Red cards: None.

Morecambe: Mair, Tutonda, Bedeau ©, Songo’o, Adams, Garner, Slew (Hiwula, 61’), Stokes, Edwards (C Smith, 90+3’), Harrack (Larsson, 85’), Khumbeni (Brown, 85’).

Subs not used: A Smith, Taylor, Fairclough.

Goals: Edwards (31’, 74’), Stokes (70’).

Bookings: Tutonda.

Red cards: None.