19/02/2022
๐ต๐ท๏ธ Newport 5-5 Forfar Athletic ๐ท๏ธ๐ต
Goalscorers;
Josh Richardson 21' โฝ๏ธ
Scott Thomson 61' 63' 78' โฝ๏ธโฝ๏ธโฝ๏ธ ๐ฉโจ
Jack Neave 88' โฝ๏ธ
Substitutions; ๐
Connor Gorman 70'
Stuart Thomson 70'
Debuts; ๐ค
Ben Soave
Bookings; ๐
Adam Hoggan ๐ก
Scott Thomson ๐ก
It was a 10 goal thriller this afternoon in Newport as both sides claimed a point apiece in what can only be described as a roller coaster of a match! ๐ข ๐๐ป
Forfar almost took the lead within the opening minutes of the match, Josh Richardson and Ben Soave co-operated some fine link up play together down the right hand side, Richardson supplied the delivery and Lewis Davison forced in the finish only for the goal to be dissallowed with Davison deemed to be offside. ๐ฉ
Shortly after in the 13th minute Logan Hogg found himself sprinting towards goal from the left flank, the Newport keeper rushed off his line to perform a great save in the one on one scenario to deny Hogg from opening the scoring. ๐ซ
The referee was called to action and decided to present a yellow card to a Newport player for a wreckless challenge, with the challenge coming from behind and the studs up in a dangerous position the home side could count their lucky stars that they weren't reduced to 10 men. ๐ก
It was the hosts turn to test Forfar as they looked favourable to score in a phase of play that saw both forwards have a chance to find the back of the net only to be denied from Gavin Dunn who made his first appearance as a goalkeeper for the Loons, his superb double save keeping the score level and propelling for what came in the next phase of play... ๐๐ป
Soave received the ball from a long throw down the byline before sending the ball goalward from a crossing position, the Newport keeper met the effort with a finger tape save onto the post but in vain as to his dismay Richardson pounced on the opportunity and tapped the ball home to put Forfar into the lead. 0-1 โฝ๏ธ
The lead wasn't to last as five minutes later the hosts were level, a corner kick was floated to the back post were the ball found the net courtesy of a free header. 1-1. โฝ๏ธ
In the 33rd minute Newport threw another suckerpunch at the Loons when they took the lead. Their forwards linked up sublimely with one sending the other through on goal with a backheel pass trickling through the backline and his teammate making no mistake to convert the chance into the bottom corner. 2-1. โฝ๏ธ
Forfar almost had an immediate reaction of their own missing 2 great chances on the back of conceding. Soave failing to convert the ball goalward with the goalkeeper off his line and Richardson managing to lift the ball over the goalkeeper only to see it roll away from the target.
Dunn rised to the call of duty to deny the oppisition from doubling their lead, reaching to his bottom right corner to save a fierce strike that would've otherwise nestled into the net. ๐๐ป
The half ended with a minute of madness on both ends of the pitch. The referee awarding an indirect free kick to Newport causing mass confusion as to whether a penalty was awarded or not with no one on either side being able to grasp at the rational behind the decision making, assuming there was any at all. โ
The result saw Forfar catch their oppisition on the break, Richardson entering the final third and cutting in from the left hand side and sent the ball sailing goalwards only to be denied an equaliser from an excellent save from the keeper. The save rebounded into the path of Davison who was fouled from an outstanding block from a Newport defender.
โณ HT: Newport 2-1 Forfar Athletic โณ
10 minutes into the second half and there was a 4th goal in the game. Despite calls for offside the Newport winger was played into the right channel but kept his composure and did well to finish past Dunn and find the bottom left corner. 3-1. โฝ๏ธ
The Loons had a mountain to climb but were up to the task and pulled a goal back on the 61st minute. Chris Bell and Davison linked up really well before Davison played a great ball through for striker Scott Thomson, who also kept his composure and calmly struck the ball into the bottom corner. 3-2. โฝ๏ธ
2 minutes later and Forfar were on level terms! Bell once again involved in the build up, his cross found Thomson who then utilised a tidy display of footwork to keep the ball under pressure from the Newport defence before slotting the ball into the bottom left corner. 2 very well worked goals in just 2 minutes. 3-3. โฝ๏ธ๐๐ป
Whilst Richardson and Thomson were finding success infront of goal, Hogg was the one to be left frustrated as once again he saw his effort well saved from the goalkeeper. Doing ever so well to latch onto a poor goalkick before taking the ball into thorough control and pulling the trigger.
However once again the hosts capitalised on Forfar's wasteful chances and were awarded a penalty in the 75th minute. Dispatched into the top corner leaving Dunn no chance of keeping the score level. 4-3. โฝ๏ธ
Jack Neave was shifted from his ordinary full position to move further up the park as a winger and the decision proved to be critical to secure a result in the match. Neave weighted a superb ball through for Thomson to send him through on goal, the goalkeeper was in full sprint to clash into the ball and deny Thomson his hattrick but simply stood no chance as his pressure proved to be ineffective. Thomson skipped past the goalie and scored into an open net to secure his hattrick and his 7th goal of the season. Cool, Composed, Class. 4-4. โฝ๏ธ
Frustratingly it was another set piece that proved to be Forfar's undoing. A corner kick was floated into the Forfar box and although the first header was won by a sky blue shirt, the second header was won by an unchallenged Newport player and hammered into the back of the net. 5-4. โฝ๏ธ
A brave display from the Loons didn't deserve to come out empty handed and fortunately it didn't, as fortune favours the brave, the 88th minute saw the goal of the game. Newports keeper launched a goalkick 35 yards away from goal only to meet a thunderous volley from Neave, with the ball almost bursting the back of the net after dipping over the keeper. In the blink of an eye the Loons had equalised and Neave was drowning in a sea of blue shirts piling on top of him. A dramatic finish to a very tough and entertaining game. 5-5! โฝ๏ธโก๐ญ
It's a bag of mixed emotions as on one hand more wasted opportunities and set piece defending come back to bite Forfar to prevent a full 3 points for the group stage and on the other the Loons showed great character in a never say die attitude that saw them consistently react to every obstacle they had to face and refused to leave without something to show for it.
๐- Man of the Match is a tie! An excellent display from both Gavin Dunn in the sticks and hattrick hero Scott Thomson! 2 different ends of the park but both inspiring a result for Forfar to prevent from falling into the clutches of defeat. Very well done Gavin and Scott! ๐๐ป๐๐ป๐
