United 0
Newport County 0
United’s trio of home pre-season friendlies got underway with a goalless draw against Newport County on Saturday.
Both sides made light work of the blazing hot conditions in the early stages, as they made the wise choice of letting the ball do the majority of the running on the carpet-like surface at Plainmoor.
The first chances fell the way of the visitors, with a timely interception from Ross Marshall forcing Offrande to end his run into the box with a poked effort wide of the post, before on-loan left-back Adam Lewis sent his 20-yard free kick past the same upright soon after.
It wasn’t long before United created a few opportunities of their own though.
First, a rising Ali Omar at the back-post saw him divert a Kieron Evans corner across goal, however it lacked the finishing touch, with a Newport defender well placed to clear the danger inside the six-yard box.
Dylan Crowe – already winning admirers from his displays at Buckland and Exmouth – produced a superb burst of pace to beat County left-back Lewis, before delivering a dangerous low ball towards the front post that was unfortunately just behind the onrushing Ryan Hanson.
The visiting Exiles threatened twice more before the break, with Cameron Norman sending a cross-shot across the face of goal. It failed to attract the attention of his team mates though, and ended up drifting wide of Mark Halstead’s goal.
Halstead was forced into action on the stroke of half-time however, producing a marvellous tip over to prevent Lewis’s curling shot from fifteen yards hitting the net, following a jinking run into the box from the Newport man.
All square at the break then.
Following what was a decidedly physical first half, it was The Gulls who were out quickest following the restart, with Brett McGavin’s free-kick from the left finding Ross Marshall, who glanced his header wide of the target, a couple of minutes in.
Aaron Jarvis, making his first appearance in pre-season so nearly got on the scoresheet midway through the second period, following a delightful through-ball from Kieron Evans, before his well-placed shot from just inside the box drew an equally impressive save from Newport ‘keeper Joe Day.
A swift break from the Welsh side nearly caught United out minutes later, with Crowe receiving a rare pre-season caution, and Omar Bogle nearly exacting further punishment – only for Halstead to palm his rebound effort onto the top of the crossbar.
The introduction of water breaks throughout proceedings served as a tribute to the efforts of the players, and there was no let-up in their commitment right up until the final whistle, despite the scoreline remaining blank.
Next up, back-to-back Devon derbies!
United: 1. Mark Halstead, 2. Dylan Crowe, 5. Ali Omar, 6. Ross Marshall (23. Ollie Tomlinson, 62′), 7. Ryan Hanson (22. Callum Thomas, 74′), 9. Aaron Jarvis (20. Alex Moyse, 74′), 10. Corie Andrews (18. Olaf Koszela, 62′), 11. Kieron Evans, 14. Brett McGavin (24. Trialist A, 62′), 19. Shaun Donnellan (25. Jack Winsor, 80′), 21. Dean Moxey (c) (12. Brandon Quinn, 90′).
Newport Starting XI: Joe Day, Cameron Norman, Adam Lewis, Micky Demetriou, James, Clarke, Declan Drysdale, Scott Bennett, Sam Bowen, Aaron Wildig, Omar Bogle (Tom Stokes, 80′), Offrande Zanzala.
SUBS: Evan Ovendale, Evan Cadwallader, Kiban Rai, Jonah Wiliiams.
Booking: 48′
Attendance: 1,062 (183 away)