Fleet Town manager Mick Catlin must be wondering when his side's
luck is going to change, after they returned pointless from the Isle of Wight on
Tuesday night.
Leading 1-0 with only 12 minutes remaining, Catlin could only watch as his
hard-working team conceded two late goals in a minute to hand the points to the
Island side.
"I was pleased with the way we played, but obviously not with the result,"
Catlin said after the game.
"We were the better side for most of the game, deserved to be in front and had
enough opportunities to stretch the lead further. But we looked nervous going
into the last quarter, made two mistakes and got punished," He added.
Catlin will now have to rally his side ahead of the long trip to Kings Lynn on
Saturday, for what is likely to be one of Fleetıs toughest games of the season.
For Tuesdayıs game Catlin was able to bring in 19 year-old striker Barry Parker
to partner Mark Frampton, with new signing Shaun Hale moving out to the wing.
For the first 30 minutes the Fleet side looked confident and took a deserved
lead in the 33rd minute when a 25 yard Craig Anstey free-kick took a deflection
from a defender and went in.
At the other end some poor finishing by the Newport strikers and some fine saves
from keeper Steve May meant that Fleet went in at the interval on top.
After the break Fleet quickly regained control and almost extended their lead
when a shot from mid-fielder Ed Hare had the Newport keeper beaten, only to be
denied by the upright. Wingman Hale also went close after a fine attacking move.
But despite the pressure Fleet failed to add to their lead.
Then in the 78th minute the home equalised, against the run of play, sub Ashley
Wright running on to a loose ball after a mistake in the Fleet defence -
Wrightıs shot giving May no chance in the Fleet goal.
A minute later a second defensive error gave Wright his second goal, with a
simple tap in to take his side into the lead.
FLEET TOWN: May, Buckland, Millerick, (sub Proctor, 71 mins), Murphy,
Blakely, Hare, Black, Anstey, Parker, (Tiller, 78), Frampton, Hale. Subs not
used: Saunders, Regan, Clayton.
Attendance: 461.