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Scott5 wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 7:05 pm No disrespect to local players but was there really any benefit in an academy? Especially when we needed to build a team to try and compete in the league and find that. People talk about local talent but I’m yet to see anyone really tearing it up at any level other than perhaps Workington and Holker, and any decent player will go to the likes of Preston etc.
What we needed was the old B team or an equivalent to bring players through from lower leagues, and give fringe players a chance to play games and keep fit.

and I don’t want any of them anywhere near a team in the national league either.

First bit of your post- Academy’s at clubs with far greater resource than us have been pulled because of budget constraints and a questioning attitude as to whether they actually produce enough players. Agree with that. However a B team playing competitively is a surely a must for any club aspiring to actually do anything on the pitch. We need a B team for players not in the match day squad and returning from injury. Alongside the best of the local talent

Second bit of your post- % agree

ForeverABluebird wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 5:07 pm If you’re one of the people clapping the players off the pitch, you need to have a serious word with yourself! None of them players give a single [SwearFilter]! All a bunch of scumbags starting with Iain wood chief oxygen thief! Clubs absolute cabbaged now

Interesting name you go by, given that post..

We continued our long tradition of a one-goal defecit at home in a “foot of the table 6-pointer”, losing 2-1 to a Newport County side who celebrated long after the final whistle. In the end, Newport could have lost- and stayed up- but less than half an hour earlier they had looked doomed as we held a deserved 1-0 lead and the relegation battles elsewhere were all still draws.

Josh Gordon’s saved penalty two minutes into the second half, aimed straight at keeper Wright, proved eventually to be the turning point. Galvanised by this let-off, Newport gradually took the initiative and levelled in the 76th minute after a Barrow defensive mix-up in the area. Seven minutes later a strike from the left gave Newport the lead.

When McCann grabbed a 9th minute Barrow lead from a superb Harper cross from the right it looked like the unlikely great escape, at least from a Barrow goalscoring point of view, might be on. We had already come close to scoring less than two minutes in from a McCann free kick into the box and had then also had a Jackson corner cleared.

Our debutant keeper Barrett looked confident both in saving and kicking, effectively launching a number of attacks. At the other end, Rose had a shot saved by Wright in the 26th minute, and then he tipped over another effort from McCann, before Harper skied a shot from 20 yards.

In the 32nd minute, Barrow came close twice to doubling the lead. Raglan had a goal-bound shot superbly saved, and from the rebound, a Williams effort was blocked on the line. Three minutes later, Wright saved a close-range Harper effort.

When Newport did get a rare opportunity, they squandered it though poor decisions and shooting. Lloyd shot wide of the right post in the 38th minute.

However, we also squandered opportunities, Gordon skying a narrow-angle shot from the right on the second minute of added time when he should have centered. Our corners also came to nothing and with the narrow 1-0 lead at half time, any great escape was starting to look doomed.

Things might have been different had we taken advantage early on in the second half. At half time, Newport replaced Jarvis with Davies, and less than a minute in Harper shot wide of the left post from a McCann assist.

Seconds later, a cross from the left into the Newport area led to a handball by Brennan. Josh Gordon stepped up to take the 48th minute to take the spot kick but a far from confident effort was aimed straight at Wright and we could not take advantage from the rebound.

The warning signs of a Newport revival began in the 56th minute when substitute Davies shot past the right post from the edge of the area. A minute later, Kamwa hit the bar from the left edge of the area. On the hour, McCann was booked for a foul on Sprangler.

Our own opportunities to score were now at a premium, Williams shooting wide in the 66th minute.

Seconds later, Foley replaced Hemmings with Newby. However, Newport were now on an upward trajectory, Crole shots being blocked in the 69th and 70th minutes. Crole then headed over from a Kamwa cross as it became only a matter of time for the leveller.

Kamwa shot over in the 74th minute. Two minutes later, a ball into our area was first cleared by Barrett but the rebound caused a defensive mix-up with a poor back pass from MacDonald, allowing Crole to set up Davies who fired home from close range.

A minute later, Foley replaced Gordon with Fletcher and Jackson with Anderson. These changes seemed to make matters worse, Anderson being booked for a foul on Crole within three minutes of coming on.

In the 81st minute, Newport gained a free kick from 25 yards. Sprangler’s kick led to a shot from Baker which Barrett did well to save. There was now relentless pressure from Newport, a Crole header and Kamwa shot coming close.

Finally, the breakthrough for the 83rd minute winner came as Sprangler assisted a strike from the left by Kamwa, giving Barrett no chance. Kamwa removed his shirt in celebration and was booked.

More changes in the 85th minute, Whitfield and Malcolm coming on for Rose and Raglan. Too little, too late. As Scott Smith was given Barrow’s man of the match, seven minutes of added time were announced. After Matt Smith came on for Kamwa, we nearly grabbed a late equaliser in the final minute as a McCann free kick led to an Anderson cross to Harper, who hit the right post. McCann then shot wide from a free kick and a Smith shot was saved.

Another home loss then, finishing three points below also relegated Harrogate. Newport overtook Tranmere to finish in 20th, four points above Harrogate.

Credit to the 930 Newport supporters who celebrated with the players afterward, after a more subdued acknowledgement was given by the Barrow fans to our players, both feeling the pain of the moment. At least one set one fans went away from Holker Street happy and, after watching their celebrations, I enjoyed chatting to Newport County supporters walking home, wishing each other all the best for the coming season. Total attendance was 3,588.

Well, we did show urgency and effort today and we even 'went for it' . . . only to be undone again by a bad equaliser gifted to the opposition. If I could step aside and assess today's match objectively then it reminded me of why football can be appealing because we watched two teams both desperately trying to win and it was probably very watchable for the neutral. An exciting game of football, shame about the result. We probably tried to attack more in the first half than we have in most of our home games put together this season. It made a refreshing change. Still though, shame about the result.

But now that it's all over, I will always remember the words of the Bromley manager after we beat them 2-1 a few weeks ago. I think his words can be held up as the perfect damnation of our season . . .

"If I was the Barrow owner I'd be asking of the players 'where have you lot been all season'"

Sums it up perfectly.

Scott5 wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 7:05 pm No disrespect to local players but was there really any benefit in an academy? Especially when we needed to build a team to try and compete in the league and find that. People talk about local talent but I’m yet to see anyone really tearing it up at any level other than perhaps Workington and Holker, and any decent player will go to the likes of Preston etc.
What we needed was the old B team or an equivalent to bring players through from lower leagues, and give fringe players a chance to play games and keep fit.

As for the match the spirit and effort was there for an hour and we should’ve been out of sight, the penalty miss was the turning point and it wasn’t a surprise - why not let Rose on it after Gordon’s miss against Cheltenham. Newport hit the bar and grew in confidence although standard Barrow the equaliser was a gift an abomination from
Macdonald who for his pedigree has been crap for me. Then we were all over the place and wide open and a Newport winner was inevitable as they grew in confidence and we wilted and tired. We aren’t fit enough, and are weak physically and mentally. Newby and Anderson (probably our worst player) coming on weakens us and we’re down to nine men pretty much then. The inevitable happens and Newport score.
If you don’t take your chances and can’t see games out then you won’t win many and that’s why we are where are and deservedly so. I hope the board and players watched those Newport celebrations at the end and watch it back…that has to be some
Kind of motivation.

As for Sam foleys comments if the players can’t handle the pressure and it got too much for them then they’re in the wrong job - a lot are. Anderson, Newby, Raglan, macdonald, Hemmings, Mahoney are not league 2 players and I don’t want any of them anywhere near a team in the national league either.

Raglan was outstanding today

Jonty wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 4:53 pm Nothing to add. Hope all this lot can be moved on, and I mean all of them. The club needs a squad rebuild.

Harrison Biggins, wasn’t he not good enough for us once

Newport have a handful of Barrow rejects.

Always Ultra wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 7:54 pm

Jonty wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 4:53 pm Nothing to add. Hope all this lot can be moved on, and I mean all of them. The club needs a squad rebuild.

Harrison Biggins, wasn’t he not good enough for us once

Newport have a handful of Barrow rejects.

The match passed Biggins by the others didn't play so your point is ?

The point is they got 7 more points than us with a team of shit players.

Newport players in Asda after the game clearing the shelves of beer. Sickening

Big_Bluebird wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 8:06 pm Newport players in Asda after the game clearing the shelves of beer. Sickening

Good for the local economy rather than that of Wales!

Hitthebar22 wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 7:18 pm

ForeverABluebird wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 5:07 pm If you’re one of the people clapping the players off the pitch, you need to have a serious word with yourself! None of them players give a single [SwearFilter]! All a bunch of scumbags starting with Iain wood chief oxygen thief! Clubs absolute cabbaged now

Interesting name you go by, given that post..

Bet you clapped the players off didn’t you

Big_Bluebird wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 8:06 pm Newport players in Asda after the game clearing the shelves of beer. Sickening

As long as they're not in the bread aisle!

The funniest part of today and which sums the club up as a whole this season and how tin pot we are was the half time draw raffle ticket.

80 minutes announcing the winning ticket
88 minutes “correction we got it wrong the actual winning ticket is….”

Big_Bluebird wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 8:06 pm Newport players in Asda after the game clearing the shelves of beer. Sickening

They deserve it and so do their fans.

Did what they needed to do to stay up.

We didn’t.

will3988 wrote: ↑Sat May 02, 2026 9:23 pm The funniest part of today and which sums the club up as a whole this season and how tin pot we are was the half time draw raffle ticket.

80 minutes announcing the winning ticket
88 minutes “correction we got it wrong the actual winning ticket is….”

And the 70th birthday announcement on 56 minutes for some reason