Kevin Hill (8) heads the Magpies first goal
DORCHESTER TOWN
1	Gareth Stewart
2	N. Peprah Annan		46
3	Jake Smeeton
4	Danny Clay
5	Patrece Liburd
6	Alex Browne		46
7	Nick Crittenden
8	Kevin Hill
9	Ryan Moss
10	Jamie Mudge
11	Mitchell Nicholson		79
Substitutes
12	Leon Osei		79
14	R. Marsh-Brown		46
15	Michael Walker		46
16	Tom Mitchell
17	Darren Watts
NEWPORT COUNTY
1	Glyn Thompson
2	Kevin Stephens
3	Dave Collins
4	Anthony Church		77
5	Ian Hillier
6	Martyn Giles
7	Danny Rose
8	Adie Harris
9	Phil Walsh		49
10	Craig Hughes
11	Paul Hall
Substitutes
12	Rob Duffy		49
14	Kevin Cooper
15	Jamal Easter		77
16	Steve Jenkins
17	Nicky Church
Referee
Eamonn Smith (Mayford)

Saturday 23rd August 2008
		Newport County	4
		Rose 6, Harris 36, Easter 85, Hughes 89
		Dorchester Town	4
		Hill 17, 90, Moss 57, Osei 81

Hill has final say in Welsh thriller

by Terry Spracklen

Kevin Hill's last-ditch strike salvaged a well deserved draw for never-say-die Dorchester in an enthralling Blue Square South encounter at Newport Stadium.

Supporters were left on the edge of their seats as the Magpies twice came from behind to peg the scores at 2-2 before Leon Osei came off the bench to fire the visitors in front for the first and only time in the match.

But with five minutes left, Dorchester were reduced to ten men when tigerish midfielder Danny Clay was sent off for a second bookable offence.

With a noisy home crowd roaring them on, Newport equalised from the resultant free-kick then went on to take a 4-3 lead when a suspiciously offside-looking Craig Hughes scored from close range.

But deep into injury time, substitute Michael Walker flicked the ball over the last defender into the path of Hill who raced forward and although his first shot rebounded back off a post, the former Torquay United midfielder gleefully squeezed his rebound attempt under the diving body of Newport keeper Glyn Thompson for a memorable equaliser.

The first goal attempt of the match was carved out by Exiles' full-back Kevin Stephens whose centre was headed over by former Manchester United midfielder Danny Rose.

But Rose soon made amends by opening the scoring in the sixth minute with a low shot from six yards following a nod down in the box by Phil Walsh.

Thompson was first called into action in the 13th minute when he was well placed to cut out a close range header from Mitchell Nicholson following a Nick Crittenden corner.

The reprieve for County did not last long as Shaun Brooks' side carved out their first equaliser after 17 minutes.

And it came from another Crittenden corner, which this time was played deep to the unmarked Hill who produced a powerful header into the far bottom corner.

At the other end, a close range stab from Rose was blocked as was a 30-yard driven free-kick from Dave Collins. The rebound from the latter fell to Adie Harris but his 40-yard effort lacked power and Gareth Stewart was able to make a comfortable save.

Newport looked to restore their lead and a Collins free-kick found the lively Walsh whose glanced header was tipped over by Stewart.

From the resultant Harris corner, Martyn Giles produced a diving header but could only send the ball wide. Newport then had appeals for a penalty turned down as Nathan Peprah-Annan stooped to cut out a cross from Hughes.

There was brief respite for Dorchester when Hill's looping header from another Crittenden corner was saved by Thompson but in the 36th minute the visitors found themselves behind again. Newport were awarded a free-kick just outside the box when Hughes was impeded and Harris curled a superb free-kick over the wall and into the roof of the net.

The Magpies quickly stepped up their own attack rate and Jamie Mudge was denied only by a goal-line clearance from Exiles' skipper Ian Hillier as he met a cross by Crittenden.

Brooks replaced Alex Browne - who had come in for the unwell Gary Bowles - and Peprah-Annan with Ronayne Benjamin Marsh-Brown and Walker immediately after the break but the first chance of the second half fell to the Welshmen when skipper Patrece Liburd's foul gave away a free-kick which Collins drove inches over the crossbar from 25 yards.

But Newport were stunned on 57 minutes. Dorchester levelled when Ryan Moss outpaced Giles to latch on to a through ball and round Thompson to slot home.

The Exiles went close to regaining their lead when Marsh-Brown was penalised but Harris drove his free-kick across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

The Magpies were then able to gain the upper hand for a lengthy spell with Crittenden firing a shot over and Moss haring down the right flank but failing to get his cross over to strike partner Mudge only due to a superb intervention from Stephens.

A slip by Collins let Mudge through but Thompson raced off his line to clear the initial danger.

From the ensuing throw-in, substitute Osei, who had just replaced Nicholson, turned to drill a low diagonal shot into the far corner with his first touch.

Ahead for the first time and with only nine minutes remaining Dorchester's players rejoiced with a surge towards the bench.

But their joy proved short-lived during a crazy final six minutes.

Having already been booked earlier in the second half, Clay found himself shown the red card for a foul which gave Newport and Harris another free- kick.

The ruffled Dorchester defence, in which Walker was also shown a yellow card for pushing, could only clear the ball to the edge of the area where Exiles' substitute Jamal Easter fired Newport level.

Worse soon followed for the Magpies as the home side rallied to regain the lead with a controversial fourth goal.

Rose and substitute Rob Duffy combined to set up Hughes who scored from close range and the goal stood despite Dorchester's players protestations that Hughes had been offside when the ball was played to him.

For showing dissent, Marsh-Brown became the fifth Magpie to enter referee Eamonn Smith's notebook.

But there was still time for one final twist in this amazing match as Walker's decisive last ball found Hill who drew Dorchester level for the third time at the second attempt.

	MATCH STATS
17	TOTAL ATTEMPTS	10
12	ATTEMPTS ON TARGET	5
5	ATTEMPTS OFF TARGET	4
0	HIT WOODWORK	1
4	CORNERS	8
1	OFFSIDES	2
9	FREE-KICKS CONCEDED	18