IT WAS déjà vu all over again for Newport County AFC as they beat promotion-chasing opponents reduced to 10 men for the second week running.

A stoppage-time header from captain Mickey Demetriou earned County a 1-0 victory over Barrow at Holker Street to back up last week’s 2-1 home win over Swindon Town.

Six points in eight days will go a long way to easing the Exiles’ relegation fears.

Graham Coughlan’s men are now up to 18th and have opened up an eight-point gap over Gillingham in 23rd.

They left it late, but the visitors almost enjoyed a perfect start as Adam Lewis, Charlie McNeill and Offrande Zanzala all combined and Zanzala had the ball in the back of the net in the first minute, but the celebrations were cut short by an offside flag.

Midway through the first half, Manchester United loanee Charlie McNeill was denied by Barrow goalkeeper Paul Farman after more good work from Liverpool loanee Adam Lewis.

But, otherwise, it was the hosts who enjoyed the better opportunities in the first 45 minutes.

County were thankful to goalkeeper Nick Townsend for an impressive save to his right to keep out a diving header from inside the area by Ged Garner in the 16th minute.

And Sam McClelland flicked Elliot Newby's cross from the right narrowly over the bar on the volley a minute later.

Townsend also kept out Ben Whitfield's shot on the turn and again denied Garner after a swift counter-attack launched by Elliot Newby just before the break.

Barrow started the second half on the front foot and Newby saw a shot deflected inches wide before Sam McClelland headed just off target from a corner and former Exiles man Billy Waters also went close.

At the other end, Farman made a great one-handed save to tip Aaron Lewis’s shot round the post and Zanzala was only denied the opener by a fantastic slide tackle from Patrick Brough.

That proved to be Zanzala’s last contribution as he and McNeill were replaced up front by Omar Bogle and Calum Kavanagh on 63 minutes.

The double change suggested Coughlan was not prepared to settle for a point and it was County who looked most likely to force the winner in the closing stages.

Adam Lewis and Demetriou both tried their luck from distance before Bogle’s curler was saved by Farman, who also kept out Kavanagh’s header from Cameron Norman’s cross.

Barrow were reduced to 10 men on 81 minutes when Rory Feely was shown a straight red card for chopping down Adam Lewis.

It looked as if the hosts, who have now gone five games without a win, would hang on for a point.

But Demetriou had other ideas. The skipper climbed high to head home a dramatic winner in the fifth and final minute of time added on to spark wild celebrations amongst the 95 travelling fans – just reward for their 500-mile round-trip.

Coughlan’s men will now hope to make it a hat-trick of victories over high-flying opponents when they host second-placed Stevenage at Rodney Parade on Tuesday night.

 

Barrow (4-2-3-1): P Farman; R Feely, S McClelland, N Canavan, P Brough; H Neal (R Gotts, 75) T White (S Foley, 86); E Newby (J Newby, 75), B Waters (T Warren, 83), B Whitfield; G Garner (R Bennett, 75)

Substitutes not used: J Lillis

Booked: H Neal

Sent off: R Feely

 

Newport County (3-5-2): N Townsend; J Clarke, P Farquharson, M Demetriou; C Norman, Aaron Lewis, S Bennett, H Charsley (W Evans, 88), Adam Lewis; C McNeill (C Kavanagh, 63), O Zanzala (O Bogle, 63)

Substitutes not used: J Day, J Waite, M Baker, N Moriah-Welsh

Booked: M Demetriou, Aaron Lewis, H Charsley

Referee: S Stockbridge

Attendance: 2,804 (95 away)Sent from Mail for Windows