Salford City were unable to break their poor run of form against Newport County, falling to a 3-1 defeat at Rodney Parade in League Two.
Despite a late strike from substitute Cole Stockton giving them hope, Salford were largely outplayed by a well-organised Newport side, who secured a deserved victory. The result left the Ammies ensconced in the bottom half, while the Exiles are once again looking up the table.
Salford came into the match looking to turn around their fortunes against Newport, having failed to beat them in any of their previous league encounters. However, they found themselves behind early on when Newport’s towering striker Kyle Hudlin headed home in the 10th minute. Hudlin, standing at 6ft 9ins, met an outswinging corner from Anthony Glennon and guided the ball into the far corner past goalkeeper Jamie Jones. It was Hudlin’s first goal for Newport and marked a difficult start for Salford.
Newport continued to apply pressure and doubled their lead midway through the first half. After a well-worked move, Hudlin flicked on a cross into the path of Aaron Wildig, who calmly slotted the ball into the net with a low shot to make it 2-0. Salford struggled to contain Newport’s lively attacking play, with Kieron Evans and Bobby Kamwa causing problems down the flanks.
Salford showed signs of life after going two goals down, with Francis Okoronkwo hitting the post from a tight angle after beating the offside trap. Nick Townsend, Newport’s goalkeeper, also had a nervous moment when his clearance was deflected, but Salford were unable to capitalise on these opportunities.
The Ammies were disjointed for much of the first half, with some promising individual moments but lacking cohesion as a team. Kelly N’Mai had a chance to reduce the deficit just before the break but opted to cross instead of shooting when in a good position, summing up Salford’s frustrations.
At the start of the second half, Salford had a scare when Haji Mnoga delivered a dangerous cross that flashed across the face of goal, but they were unable to find the finishing touch. Salford’s hopes of a comeback were further dampened when Newport extended their lead in the 67th minute. Kieron Evans, who had been a constant threat throughout the game, burst forward and played a perfectly weighted pass to Michael Spellman, who had just come on as a substitute. Spellman made no mistake, slotting home with his left foot to make it 3-0.
Despite the setback, Salford continued to press and finally got on the scoresheet in the 81st minute. Stockton, introduced earlier in the half to add some attacking spark, turned smartly inside the box and fired a low shot past Townsend to pull one back for the visitors. The goal gave Salford a glimmer of hope, but they were unable to mount a full comeback.
Salford created a few more half-chances in the closing stages, but Newport’s defence held firm. Despite Stockton’s late effort, Salford couldn’t make the most of their opportunities, and the match ended with a 3-1 defeat.
Salford had more possession than Newport, holding 63.8% of the ball, but struggled to convert that dominance into clear-cut chances. The team had 12 shots, but only three were on target, highlighting their difficulties in breaking down Newport’s well-drilled defence. Stockton’s goal was a small consolation in a match where Salford were second best for much of the game.
The result extends Salford’s winless run against Newport and leaves them needing to find greater consistency as they push for better results. Stockton’s late impact and the flashes of individual skill will give Salford something to build on, but they will need to improve their teamwork and finishing if they are to bounce back in their next fixture.
