BARACK Obama and his fellow world leaders might have surprisingly decided to meet in Newport last month but the South Wales town is never the destination of choice for York City chiefs.

Twelve months on from his heaviest league loss in charge of the Minstermen, Nigel Worthington saw his ten-man team succumb to a 3-1 defeat at Rodney Parade with the early second-half sending off of skipper Russell Penn proving pivotal.

Worthington’s assistant Steve Torpey, who was in the dugout for last season’s 3-0 reverse, was also at the helm in a caretaker capacity when City were thrashed 4-0 by the Exiles back in 2010.

Gary Mills, on his way to double-winning Wembley glory, was not immune to the County curse either, seeing his side downed 2-1 by the former European Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-finalists, which signalled the end of a club record-breaking run of 13 away games undefeated.

In total, seven managers – the three mentioned above along with Martin Foyle, Denis Smith, Charlie Wright and Wilf McGuinness - have tried and failed to bring back maximum points from the Gwent outpost during 11 matches at three different grounds since goals from Tommy Henderson (2) and the late Paul Aimson helped Tom Johnston secure a 3-0 triumph back when Obama was a nine-year-old schoolboy in March 1971.

Following the opening 45 minutes of their latest visit, City looked well-placed to end that sorry sequence with debutant Diego de Girolamo’s goal giving the visitors a deserved lead after a first half that was both professional and disciplined, right up to the moment Penn was caution for dissent seconds before the interval.

Penn and central-midfield partner Lewis Montrose had controlled proceedings, up to that point, but the City captain made a rash challenge on Lee Minshull straight from the restart and the only dilemma for referee Carl Berry was whether to show the 28-year-old midfielder a second yellow card or reach straight for his red.

He opted for another booking, meaning Penn will only miss this weekend’s home match with Shrewsbury.

On the evidence of Saturday’s subsequent surrender, though, he could be sorely missed.

Even allowing for their numerical disadvantage, the Minstermen were rolled over far too easily at Rodney Parade, struggling to put up the barricades that have seen infinite teams make light of such handicaps in the past by organising two stubborn and regimented banks of four.

The midfield had been outmanned in the first period, lining up against the hosts’ 3-5-2 formation, but were largely untroubled.

Without Penn, though, Montrose had his hands full after Justin Edinburgh introduced cultured second-half substitutes Mike Flynn and Max Porter, who were both returning from injury, with the likes of Lindon Meikle, Ryan Jarvis, Tom Platt and Luke Summerfield offering little resistance as the hosts forged forward.

Whether Worthington might have been better served keeping De Girolamo on as the visitors’ lone centre forward after Penn’s dismissal and sacrificed Ryan Brunt instead, given his lack of match fitness, is also open to debate.

De Girolamo might not carry the traditional frame of a target man but he showed an ability to take care of possession and shield the ball well when it was played up to him.

His energy levels certainly looked high and, prior to replacing him with Platt, Worthington will have been delighted by the Italian under-20 international’s willingness to close down opponents and force mistakes in a manner he demands of all his forwards.

While Penn’s dismissal undeniably gave Newport attacking impetus, it did not provide mitigating circumstances for Meikle’s failure to cut out the Minshull though ball that led to Andrew Hughes’ 51st-minute equaliser, nor could it explain the same player’s weak lob into home keeper Joe Day’s hands when he burst clear on goal and squandered an excellent opportunity to restore City’s lead.

It was not responsible, either, for Marvin McCoy’s woefully underhit back pass that saw Chris Zebroski give the Exiles a 64th-minute lead.

Home captain Darren Jones – one of the hosts’ three centre backs – then rattled in a spectacular third goal from 20 yards and Newport had further chances to record a more emphatic victory.

Earlier, the afternoon had started far more promisingly for the visitors as Brunt called Day into action with less than two minutes on the clock from 25 yards.

Sheffield United attacker De Girolamo went on to score his first-ever club goal, capitalising on sloppy home defending after Keith Lowe had picked him out in the penalty box with a quickly-taken, low free kick.

The on-loan Blade reacted sharply to spin and fire off a deflected 12-yard shot that deceived Day.

Newport’s first-half response was largely limited to set-piece situations and wayward long-range efforts from James Loveridge until Michael Ingham was forced into a smart save to tip over Zebroski’s far-post header on the stroke of half-time.

At the other end, Penn also mishit a volley wide from distance.

Further poor timing from the City captain saw him receive his marching orders after he lunged at Minshull in an ill-advised attempt to win a ball he had overran from the kick off.

Within five minutes, the hosts had levelled when Hughes’ run through the left channel went unchecked and he shot across the face of goal into exposed substitute keeper Jason Mooney’s bottom corner.

After Meikle’s chip, which was more daft than deft, Mooney, on for an unwell Ingham, then saved Hughes’ far-post header and looked on as Joe Pigott volleyed over his crossbar from close range.

Another Hughes attempt was kept out by Mooney’s right leg after Lowe’s backheeled clearance teed up the Newport wing-back.

Any hopes of surviving the home side’s onslaught, however were dashed when McCoy‘s mistake released Zebroski and he rolled the ball into an empty net after waltzing past a helpless Mooney, who could not risk hauling him down with City already a man down and on to their second keeper of the afternoon.

Jones went on to smash an unstoppable volley in off Mooney’s crossbar and City were fortunate not to concede a fourth late on when substitute Aaron O’Connor somehow sidefooted wide from three yards.

For City, Meikle lofted a 30-yard opportunity well over Day’s bar and, in a campaign that has now returned just one win in 14 matches at ten-man Stevenage, the quality of the team’s long-range shooting remains one of several causes for concern.


Match facts

Newport 3 (Hughes 51, Zebroski 65, Jones 72); York City 1 (De Girolamo 7)

York City

Michael Ingham – saved well from Zebroski.

Marvin McCoy – made a terrible mistake to gift Newport the lead.

Keith Lowe – clever assist for goal but uncertain at times.

John McCombe – did not look too assured under pressure.

Femi Ilesanmi – STAR MAN locked down his side of the pitch.

Ryan Jarvis – took wrong option late in first half.

Russell Penn - excellent until he talked his way into referee’s book .

Lewis Montrose – worked well and did his best after red card.

Lindon Meikle – at fault for first goal, wasteful at other end.

Ryan Brunt – looked strong before tiring in second half .

Diego de Girolamo – bright debut with intelligent ability.

Subs: Jason Mooney 6 – helpless (for Ingham, 46), Tom Platt 5 – laboured (for de Girolamo, 48), Luke Summerfield 5 – ineffective (for Jarvis, 68). Subs not used: Ben Hirst, Anthony Straker, Cameron Murray, Ben Godfrey.

Newport: Joe Day, Scott Tancock (Max Porter, 56), Darren Jones, Ismail Yakubu, Robbie Willmott (Mike Flynn, 46), Lee Minshull, Yan Klukowski, James Loveridge, Andrew Hughes, Joe Pigott (Aaron O’Connor, 76), Chris Zebroski. Subs not used: Lenny Pidgeley, Kevin Feely, Tom Owen-Evans, Regan Poole.

Newport star man: Jones – strong at back and scored spectacularly.

Booked: Penn 44, Tancock 49, Montrose 61.

Sent off: Penn 46.

Attendance: 2,822.

Referee: Carl Berry (Surrey) rating: 5/10 – got red card right but also detected non-existent City fouls.

Shots on target: Newport 8, City 3.

Shots off target: Newport 9, City 2.

Corners: Newport 8, City 2.

Fouls conceded: Newport 10, City 15.

Offsides: Newport 0, City 0