Match ends, Newport County 5, Morecambe 3.
NewportNewport County5MorecambeMorecambe3
Newport County edged an eight-goal thriller at Rodney Parade to boost their League Two play-off hopes at the expense of Morecambe.
Adam Lewis added to an Aaron Wildig brace to put Newport in command after a Gwion Edwards goal.
But after Edwards and Chris Stokes struck, Harry Charsley and Seb Palmer-Houlden netted to earn Newport victory.
It ended Newport's two-game losing run, but ensured successive losses for Morecambe.
The Shrimps remain within three points of the top seven in 11th, with Newport two points and one position further back.
The fact much of the damage was done to the Lancashire outfit by a former skipper will not have been lost on the travelling fans during a wet and often wild encounter.
Wildig made 248 appearances during seven years at Morecambe, but he scored twice early in both halves to put County in control at Rodney Parade.
Lewis added to Wildig's 12th minute opener with a fine finish, before Edwards counter-attacked his way to his first Morecambe goal since signing in January.
Midfielder Wildig restored the two-goal advantage only for Stokes to stab home for the visitors in a goalmouth scramble.
And the comeback looked to have been completed when Edwards nodded in after a save from close range with 16 minutes remaining.
But Charsley curled home four minutes later before Palmer Houlden sealed it with a calm finish in amongst the madness of a match that would have left both managers and sets of fans shaking their heads.
Newport County boss Graham Coughlan:
"I don't know where to start. I thought it was a brilliant advert for League Two football and for both clubs.
"It goes to show how far both clubs have come over the last couple of seasons.
"That was Morecambe chucking everything at us, but let's be honest, we could have scored eight, nine or 10 tonight. We're just pleased we came out the other side of it with three points."
Morecambe manager Ged Brannan:
"The players are devastated. I thought at times we were breathtaking on the ball but we can't defend crosses like that. We all know. We can't come away from home and create eight or nine chances and get beat like that.
"We started the game really well, we had good chance and they had one break and they had a tap-in.
"If we want to get to the play-offs we've got to shore up at the back, we've just got to.
"Gwion was unplayable at times, going through like a knife through butter. We got it back to 3-3 but conceded straight away. We had the better chances, we really did, but you can't concede goals like that."
Line-ups
Newport
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Townsend
- 28Baker
- 17Bennett
- 23JamesonBooked at 67mins
- 2Payne
- 20CharsleySubstituted forDrysdaleat 82'minutes
- 24WildigBooked at 33minsSubstituted forWaiteat 89'minutes
- 8Morris
- 3Lewis
- 31JephcottSubstituted forZanzalaat 66'minutes
- 7EvansBooked at 40minsSubstituted forPalmer-Houldenat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Drysdale
- 10Zanzala
- 11Waite
- 14Bright
- 26Maxted
- 30Palmer-Houlden
- 33Bondswell
Morecambe
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 30Mair
- 22HarrackSubstituted forLarssonat 84'minutes
- 15Stokes
- 4Bedeau
- 3TutondaBooked at 23mins
- 38KhumbeniSubstituted forBrownat 85'minutes
- 6Songo'o
- 19EdwardsSubstituted forSmithat 90+3'minutes
- 8Adams
- 14SlewSubstituted forHiwula-Mayifuilaat 61'minutes
- 9Garner
Substitutes
- 11Larsson
- 17Smith
- 18Taylor
- 20Brown
- 21Smith
- 39Hiwula-Mayifuila
- 40Fairclough
- Referee:
- Scott Simpson
- Attendance:
- 3,508
Match Stats
Home TeamNewportAway TeamMorecambe
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away23
- Shots on Target
- Home9
- Away7
- Corners
- Home8
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Newport County 5, Morecambe 3.
Goal!
Goal! Newport County 5, Morecambe 3. Seb Palmer-Houlden (Newport County) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Adam Lewis with a headed pass following a fast break.
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Foul by Seb Palmer-Houlden (Newport County).
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David Tutonda (Morecambe) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Newport County. Seb Palmer-Houlden is caught offside.
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Offside, Morecambe. Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Morecambe. Cammy Smith replaces Gwion Edwards.
Post update
Offside, Newport County. Seb Palmer-Houlden is caught offside.
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Foul by Bryn Morris (Newport County).
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David Tutonda (Morecambe) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt saved. Offrande Zanzala (Newport County) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by James Waite.
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Attempt blocked. Offrande Zanzala (Newport County) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by James Waite.
Substitution
Substitution, Newport County. James Waite replaces Aaron Wildig.
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Attempt missed. Gerard Garner (Morecambe) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by David Tutonda with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Jordy Hiwula-Mayifuila (Morecambe) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by David Tutonda with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Gerard Garner (Morecambe) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by David Tutonda with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Lewis Payne (Newport County) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Offrande Zanzala.
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Attempt missed. Gerard Garner (Morecambe) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Gwion Edwards with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Morecambe. Charlie Brown replaces Nelson Khumbeni.
Comments
Join the conversation
Some very good performances tonight, Willdig, Payne and Lewis were very good. When Newport get the ball out wide to the wingbacks they look dangerous going forward.
Defending for both teams needs to be better.
The injury tally is clocking up now which is showing on the pitch!
At least i cant watch the Wembley highlights to cheer me up!
#uts