A day to forget in South Wales…
Alex Revell named the exact same eighteen who drew with Leyton Orient last weekend. Adam Smith kept his place between the sticks, fronted by a back five of Brad Barry, Luther James-Wildin, Scott Cuthbert, Luke Prosser and Ben Coker.
Jake Taylor, Chris Lines and Jake Reeves were the three in the middle of the park, with Luke Norris and Elliott List up front.
In a day where the rain and the sunshine would battle it out in the build-up to kick-off, the game started in a similarly level manner. Back in the purple third strip, Stevenage had the first sight at goal of the game through Bradley Barry. After picking the ball up inside the Newport half, the right wing-back drove towards the Exiles’ goal but could only fire over the woodwork. That chance and a number of corners were Boro’s best chances to get ahead in the game.
However, twelve minutes in, it was all too familiar to the past trips to Oldham and Northampton. Robbie Willmott’s cross was not dealt with properly by the defending Boro, before the ball dropped to Dom Telford to tap in from two yards out. Not the start Alex Revell’s men had hoped for.
With their backs up, Stevenage pushed high once again looking for that immediate leveller. Elliott List did well to win a free kick on the edge of the Newport box a matter of minutes later, only for Chris Lines to strike the head of Mickey Demetriou and clear.
Luke Norris went close five minutes later after being slipped through by Jake Taylor, but was denied by a strong left hand from Newport stopper Joe Day.
Just before the half hour mark, Boro were two behind. Oliver Cooper gained possession in midfield before picking out Dominic Telford on the edge of the box, whose effort deflected past Adam Smith. Stevenage now had a mountain to climb as the rain started to pour.
Five minutes later, it was three and near enough impossible to see any way back into the game for Alex Revell’s men. Courtney Baker-Richardson picked the ball up on the corner of the area from Dominic Telford and fired past Smith into the far top corner. It seemed as if the hosts had only had three shots on goal in the first half, but Stevenage had conceded all three.
Half-time came and Stevenage needed a miracle to gain anything from the second half.
Bruno Andrade and Terence Vancooten were introduced for Chris Lines and Luke Prosser at the break, as Alex Revell something drastically different was needed in the next 45.
Three minutes into the restart, it was four. Dom Telford secured his hat-trick with a finish from the edge of the area into the top corner.
Six minutes into the restart, it was five. Finn Azaz.
Max Melbourne took the place of Ben Coker just after the half hour mark.
Jake Reeves went close to a consolation when Elliott List cut the ball back after taking on the goalkeeper, but Newport defended their clean sheet well in a disappointing day for Stevenage.
A thank you to the 92 Boro fans who made the journey, as focus now turns to MK Dons in the FA Cup next weekend.