Newport County 2-0 Bromley (From News Shopper)

Newport County 2-0 Bromley

1:46pm Monday 16th November 2009 in

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NEWPORT County extended their lead at the top of the table on Sunday with victory over a battling Bromley side at the Newport Stadium.

But they certainly did not have it all their own way with the result in doubt until the final minute when the hosts added their second goal.

Bromley were without Warren McBean through injury and Jacob Erskine, who has completed his loan spell and returned to Gillingham.

They drafted in Gareth A Williams and juggled the defence so Donal O’Sullivan partnered Williams up front, while Tutu Henriques filled in for O’Sullivan and Aaron Fray made a rare first team appearance at full back.

The visitors opened strongly, forcing three corners in the first four minutes, the first of which was gained by G A Williams who forced a one-handed save out of goalkeeper Glyn Thompson.

Newport’s Danny Rose forced a good save out of Gareth I Williams on 16 minutes before the Bromley keeper hit a clearance against Rob Gillman, which went for a corner a few moments later.

Bromley were unlucky not to open the scoring on 20 minutes when G A Williams’ 20-yard free-kick was only inches wide of the left hand post, while Ashley Carew’s free-kick from a similar position was high and wide three minutes later.

The hosts wasted a great chance on the half hour mark as Charlie Henry wrong-footed three defenders in the area before blazing over from six yards out.

Rose blasted wide when a well-worked free-kick picked the winger out just inside the 18 yard box.

Bromley rode their luck in the minutes leading up to the interval, as slack defending allowed a cross from the right to go straight across the face of the goal before Fray made the clearance.

From a long clearance by Thompson, Craig Reid raced clear of the defenders and with only G I Williams to beat, tried to chop the keeper but only succeeded in putting the shot straight into the custodian’s outstretched arms.

Luke I’Anson was just wide with a low header from Ryan Dolby’s corner after 53 minutes, while G I Williams moved smartly to tip Sam Foley’s low drive around for a corner at the other end.

The breakthrough came on 61 minutes when Bromley failed to clear their lines from the right and from the cross, Rose put a firm volley just outside of the reach of G I Williams when completely unmarked.

Persistence by Fray won him possession and his dangerous cross was headed for a corner by the relieved Wayne Turk before Carew’s low shot tested Thompson in the 89th minute.

However, Newport sealed their victory at the death when substitute Kerry Morgan headed the home side's second goal from a similar position to their opener.

There was still time for Carew to send in a dipping cross-cum-shot which dipped just the wrong side of the crossbar, but it was not to be.

Bromley: G I Williams, Fray, Dunk, Corneille, Henriques, Gillman, Carew, I’Anson, G A Williams, Dolby (Cassius 69). Subs not used: Kember, Read, Greene, Dalhouse. Att: 2,026.