Newport County 2, York City 1 (From York Press)

Match report: Newport County 2, York City 1

9:30am Wednesday 4th April 2012 in Match reports By Dave Flett, Sports reporter

York City celebrate Paddy McLaughlin’s free-kick equaliser at Newport County

YORK City’s record-breaking undefeated away run ended at future FA Trophy final opponents Newport County last night.

Paddy McLaughlin’s 13th goal of the season and third in as many games could not prevent the Minstermen losing a Blue Square Bet Premier game on the road for the first time in 14 fixtures – a sequence stretching back to September.

Either side of a belting McLaughlin free-kick, goals by Nat Jarvis and substitute Romone Rose earned the Exiles maximum points and left City unable to claim a third successive away win in eight days on their travels.

It also meant the visitors remain four points behind third-placed Mansfield Town in the fight for play-off positions with one game in hand.

City were forced into three changes from the side that started Friday’s 2-1 win at Luton Town with both centre-backs Chris Doig and Chris Smith missing, as well as 16-goal striker Jason Walker.

Former Wales under-21 international Dan Parslow earned a recall and was made captain for the night in the absence of Smith and Scott Kerr.

Jamal Fyfield also returned at left-back with Ben Gibson shifting into the centre of defence alongside Parslow while, in attack, Matthew Blinkhorn came in for Walker.

City made a comfortable start to the match without really threatening in an attacking sense on the bobbly Spytty Park pitch.

Jon Challinor lifted an early 25-yard shot over the bar following McLaughlin’s pass but that proved the only goal attempt of the opening 22 minutes.

A 30-yard effort by home midfielder Sam Foley then trickled wide of Michael Ingham’s goal.

The first corner of the night was won by the Minstermen on 26 minutes but it came to naught when Blinkhorn was adjudged to have fouled home goalkeeper Karl Darlow.

Newport, though, forged in front following their first flag kick of the night after Parslow had headed a dangerous Elliott Buchanan cross inches wide of Ingham’s right-hand post.

Foley’s subsequent delivery cleared Ingham, leaving Jarvis with the formality of finding the net from two yards out on 33 minutes.

The Minstermen’s response was spirited, however, with the equaliser arriving six minutes later after Lanre Oyebanjo had been chopped down 25 yards from goal by County captain Gary Warren.

He was booked for the offence but McLaughlin meted out even greater punishment when his left-footed thunderbolt of a free-kick whistled past Darlow’s right shoulder.

Newport almost got their noses back in front after hesitancy from Ingham in his own six-yard box presented Ryan Charles with a chance that he could only stab at the City ’keeper.

The visitors finished the half strongest, however, with Jamie Reed’s header from a long Oyebanjo throw deflected wide.

Reed also forced Darlow into a low save from 12 yards seconds before the break.

The first chance of the second half saw Lee Minshull hoist an ambitious 35-yard effort over Ingham’s crossbar, while County ’keeper Darlow survived a 60th-minute scare when he dropped Challinor’s long throw but, with his goal unguarded, team-mate David Pipe blocked Matty Blair’s shot.

But Newport were back in the lead on 70 minutes when Rose turned swiftly just inside City’s 18-yard box and drilled a low shot into Ingham’s bottom right-hand corner.

Shortly afterwards, Blinkhorn sidefooted wide from ten yards after McLaughlin’s shot had been blocked but, despite throwing on Moses Ashikodi and Adriano Moké, the visitors could not force a second equaliser.

Match facts

Newport County 2 (Jarvis 33; Rose 70), York City 1 (McLaughlin 39)

York City: Michael Ingham 6, Jon Challinor 7, Ben Gibson 8, Daniel Parslow 8, Jamal Fyfield 7, Lanre Oyebanjo 7, James Meredith 7, Patrick McLaughlin 8, Matty Blair 6, Matthew Blinkhorn 6, Jamie Reed 7.

Substitutes: Ashley Chambers 6 (for Reed, 64), Moses Ashikodi (for McLaughlin, 76), Adriano Moké (for Blair, 76).

Not used: Erik Tonne, Eugen Bopp.

Key: 10 – Faultless; 9 – Outstanding; 8 – Excellent; 7 – Good; 6 – Average; 5 – Below par; 4 – Poor; 3 – Dud; 2 – Hopeless; 1 – Retire.

Star man: Daniel Parslow – commanding at the back on his return to the side.

Newport: Karl Darlow, David Pipe, Gary Warren, Andrew Hughes, Andy Sandell, Lee Minshull, Max Porter, Sam Foley, Ryan Charles, Elliott Buchanan (Romone Rose, 62), Nat Jarvis (Jake Reid, 89).

Substitues (not used): Ishmail Yakubu, Darryl Knights, Glyn Thompson.

Booked: James Meredith 17, Gary Warren 39.

Sent off: None.

Shots on target: County 3, City 2.

Shots off target: County 3, City 4.

Corners: County 1, City 4.

Fouls conceded: County 11, City 15.

Offsides: County 0, City 3.

Referee: Rob Whitton (Braintree).

Attendance: 1,241 (86 away fans).