The One Where We Drove to Wales and Back for a Heartbreaker

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Newport County 3-2 Oldham Athletic

There are away days. Then there are AWAY days. Newport County — a modest 400 miles round trip — firmly falls into the latter category. Did I check the distance before buying the tickets? Reader, I did not. Did I regret it? Ask me again after the final whistle.

The day started with Odie’s game finishing at 10:45, which meant a mad dash down the M6, onto the M5, over the bridge and into Wales with minutes to spare. No time for a sit down. No time for a brew. Just full Latics commitment.

And the fancy dress on show made every mile worth it. Special mention to the BunkerBin men who were an instant crowd favourite. Latics fans — never change.

The away stand at Newport is open air, which thankfully wasn’t an issue as the sun was blazing. The stewards were… enthusiastic. Very enthusiastic. So enthusiastic that my 12-year-old couldn’t visit the snack stand or the loo without adult supervision. I nearly called their bluff and escorted him into the men’s toilets — but even I have limits.

The Match

Newport came out scrapping, which you’d expect from a side fighting for their National League survival. Inside 10 minutes they’d floated one into the top corner. 1-0. Heads up, though — news filtering through that Rochdale needed the playoffs after York grabbed a late equaliser in their 1-1 draw. The away end mood? Lifted.

And then Will Sutton. Beautiful, brilliant Will Sutton. Found the back of the net on 30 minutes to make it 1-1. From where we were standing — directly behind the goal at the other end — it was more vibes than vision, but a goal’s a goal. GET IN.

Barely time to celebrate before Simeu made it 2-1. Five minutes later. Defenders. Scoring. Goals. The fans found their voice and launched into a chorus that I’m sure Newport County fans are still thinking about.

🎶 You’re off to Rochdale, we’re off to York, we’re off to York 🎶

Then the moment that shifted everything. A 50/50 challenge in our own half — Mike Fondop, nothing obvious in it from where I was standing — but the ref consulted his linesman and out came the straight red. Ten men. Into half time.

Still 2-1 up. Still fighting.

Second Half

Shooting toward our fans, we needed a big 45 minutes. Newport had other ideas. They levelled at 2-2 not long after the restart, and then came the moment that stopped the ground.

Hudson and Simeu collided. Matt Hudson went down and didn’t move. Both physios on. The stretcher came out. He was wheeled off to a standing ovation from both sets of supporters — because football, at its best, still has that. Reports since confirm he was checked over at hospital and released home. Speedy recovery, Matt. We need you.

On came Tom Donaghy between the sticks, with Ogle and Leake also introduced. Newport were immediately awarded a penalty. No pressure, Tom.

Except Tom Donaghy didn’t read the memo about pressure. He went to his right. He stopped it. He then made a couple of brilliant saves to boot. Not rusty in the slightest — the man was outstanding.

With the Hudson delay and what felt like 400 substitutions, the ref added 16 minutes of stoppage time. Sixteen. And it genuinely felt like he was playing until Newport scored.

90+18. Their striker — the one who missed the penalty — found the net. 3-2. Full time.

Final Thoughts

Survival hopes still alive for Newport County. Worrying times ahead for us. Going into the final home game of the season, we were already down to ten men for 45 minutes today — and our keeper is in hospital. Will we have a full eleven to put out next week?

I’ll be in the players’ lounge for the last game of the season. The way things are going, I might be sitting next to most of the squad.

Come on you Latics. One more. 💙

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