Dobbins on target as Newent come from behind to claim first points of the season
Newent Town secured their first points of the 2024/25 season, coming from behind to beat Shortwood United 3-1 at Wildsmith Meadow.
Second half goals from Ryan Dobbins, Kyle Taylor and Josh Swales saw Dan Gough and Sean McKeon’s side earn a well deserved victory, having trailed at the break to Fin Byrnes’ header.
Both sides went into the game having lost in midweek, with Newent unlucky to go down away at Wellington, whilst Shortwood suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat against Stonehouse Town on Tuesday night and both sides looked to get on the ball early and make a statement on the contest.
Shortwood United Manager Marcus Foxwell had to don the gloves for the visitors, with Joe Wright away, and he produced a terrific save just before the half hour mark – getting down low to palm away a deflected Tyler Weir effort.
Before that, Ryan Dobbins had headed over the hosts, whilst Tyler Jaggers produced a number of good balls into the Newent box – although Shortwood couldn’t convert them into clear cut shots at goal.
Josh Burns and Dobbins linked up well to create panic in the Shortwood back line, with a number of blocked efforts within seconds as the visitors just about scrambled it away.
Moments later, Wood were ahead, when Byrnes arrived at the back post to nod home a cross from the right.
Alfie Bradshaw nearly added a second, but he forced Alex Goode into a smart stop – the first of many in a Man of the Match display from the Newent keeper.
The first chance of the second half saw Goode deny Bradshaw again, before Goode made another decent save to keep out Jack Gardner’s effort.
Then on the hour mark, Bradshaw shook off Newent defender Ben Dodd, but slipped his effort agonisingly wide for Shortwood.
And just like the visitors did in the first half, the hosts would go down the other end and score straight after a big chance – with Kyle Taylor’s ball across the box slotted home by Dobbins.
Within seven minutes, Newent had turned it around as Taylor stepped up to curl a free kick past Foxwell and into the bottom corner.
68 mins: GOAL @newenttownafc
— Severn Sport (@SevernSport) August 10, 2024
Kyle Taylor steps up to curl a free kick into the bottom corner and Newent lead!
2-1 pic.twitter.com/14VbH0XseO
Goode kept up his strong performance, winning the next instalment of the battle against Alfie Bradshaw with twenty minutes to go – after Tyler Jaggers’ free kick fell to the striker.
Ryan Dobbins had a chance to seal the deal with 15 minutes to go, but as he ran through on goal got served a nasty bobble and he scuffed over.
But Newent would get their third goal with sixty seconds left of normal time. After Dobbins teed up Josh Swales, the midfielder squeezed an effort past Foxwell after seeing his initial effort blocked.
And Goode would save his best stop for last, producing a fantastic close range block to keep out Ollie Price in injury, making himself big as he flew out to block Price as he shot on the spin about 8 yards out.
There will be positives for both sides to take from the game, with Shortwood, again, creating a number of chances – but just not being clinical enough in the final third.
For Newent, the win should bring them confidence ahead of a run of the next three league games being at home.
Next up for the Daffs is the visit of Bewdley Town on Tuesday night, before Tytherington Rocks visit next Saturday.
For Shortwood, they welcome Ludlow Town to Meadowbank on Tuesday night, before Kidlington Reserves arrive next weekend.
Newent Town: Goode, Webb, Purcell, Swales, Dodd, Butterworth, Burns, Eley, Dobbins, Weir, Taylor
Subs: Idowu, Hopkins, Nowell, Callinan, Alibashi-Mann
Shortwood United: Foxwell, King, Price, Byrnes, Tryner, Whelan, Gardner, Kent, Bradshaw, Martin, Jaggers
Subs: Duncan, Cooke, Stalley, Smith, Payne
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Alex Goode (Newent Town)
READ MORE: Check out the full list of results in and around Gloucestershire this Saturday right here
