Dani Rogrigues battles for the ball
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Darren Behcet
2	Mark Jermyn
3	Nathan Simpson
4	Wes Fogden
5	Alex Browne
6	Gary Bowles		70
7	Mark Robinson		67
8	Jamie Gleeson
9	Jones Awuah		81
10	Dani Rodrigues
11	Charlie Henry
Substitutes
12	Ivan Forbes		67
14	James Rowe
15	Nathan Peprah Annan		70
16	Hardy Pinto-Moreira		81
17	Simon Evans
.
NEWPORT COUNTY
1	Glyn Thompson
2	Steve Jenkins
3	Damon Searle
4	Nathan Davies
5	Lee Jarman
6	Ian Hillier
7	Jason Bowen
8	Lee Fowler
9	Charlie Griffin		70
10	Craig Hughes
11	Richard Evans		89
Substitutes
12	Mark Dobbs
14	James Simpson
15	Ashleigh Evans		89
16	Julian Alsop		70
17	Mark Ovendale
.
Referee
Will Bull (Winchester)
.

Saturday 3rd November 2007
		Newport County	3
		Hughes 6, Griffin 31, 32
		Dorchester Town	2
		Henry 23, Gleeson 51

Exiles deny Magpies

by Ky Capel

Dorchester returned empty-handed from the Newport Stadium despite a determined second half effort to overturn a two-goal deficit from a first period dominated by their hosts.

Both sides were reduced to 10 men six minutes from time when Nathan Simpson and Newport's Jason Bowen received their second yellow cards of the match having also been involved in a confrontation at the end of the first half.

Dorchester's search for a late equaliser was further hampered when they were forced, having used all their substitutes, to play the last five minutes with nine men after a sickening clash of heads between Jamie Gleeson and Exiles' skipper Steve Jenkins.

Although the latter was able to return to the field with his head bandaged, Gleeson, believed to be suffering from mild concussion, was unable to continue and was later taken to hospital as a precaution.

An early back header from Lee Jarman required maximum concentration from Newport keeper Glyn Thompson, who anxiously claimed the ball under his crossbar.

That nervy moment was soon forgotten when Nathan Davies picked out Craig Hughes on the 18-yard line who turned quickly to drill a low shot in to the bottom left corner and give the Exiles a sixth minute lead.

Davies then produced a 20-yard drive which Magpies' captain Alex Browne did well to deflect over his own crossbar.

It took Dorchester 21 minutes to carve out their first goal attempt but Thompson easily cut out a tame overhead kick from new boy Dani Rodrigues. But it was a foul on Rodrigues two minutes later which enabled the visitors to level the scores.

A now trademark free-kick saw Wes Fogden and Gleeson work the ball short to Charlie Henry who unleashed a tremendous 30-yard shot into the top right corner.

Newport were by far the livelier side in the first half and although their next effort from Lee Fowler was comfortably saved by Darren Behcet, the Magpies were soon in trouble again.

A long punt from Thompson was awkwardly dealt with by Gary Bowles at the expense of a corner. This was taken from the left by Richard Evans and met by Lee Jarman who headed well wide.

But the danger was never fully cleared and when Jenkins delivered a cross from the right to the near post, a delicate touch from Charlie Griffin restored Newport's lead.

Griffin pounced again two minutes later to put the Welshmen into the driving seat. Browne conceded a free kick, which was played short by Fowler to Evans, and his delivery proved inch perfect for Griffin to steer past Behcet from close range.

The Magpies survived an early second half scare when Behcet miskicked in front of goal but he recovered quickly to clear the danger.

At the other end, Newport also had a let off when Henry's driven centre required a goal line clearance from Ian Hillier.

The Magpies gave themselves the boost they needed when a free-kick taken on the right wing by Gleeson appeared to sail untouched through a crowded area and into the far corner, with Thompson perhaps unsighted by the presence of Browne.

Dorchester went close again in the 53rd minute when Henry's corner was punched out by Thompson but only to Gleeson, whose shot just cleared the bar.

Newport nearly grabbed a fourth goal when Fowler played in Griffin, who was looking for his hat trick, but Behcet spread himself to make a fine save.

A shot on the turn from Hughes was then saved at point-blank range by Behcet, while at the other end, only a superb last-ditch challenge from Damon Searle denied Dorch-ester substitute Ivan Forbes a clear run on goal.

There was even more drama in the last six minutes as first both sides found themselves a man down following the dismissal of Bowen and Simpson.

And then the Magpies were cruelly reduced to nine through the loss of Gleeson having sustained a head injury after heading over what proved to be Dorchester's last goal attempt.

Newport were then able to take advantage of the lengthy disruption to play, and their numerical supremacy, to comfortably see out the remaining minutes, and indeed the Exiles would have added a fourth through debutant substitute Ashleigh Evans but for a tremendous reflex save from Behcet.