City held to a point in Wales

Report

Joel Grant's second Exeter City goal was cancelled out by Lenell John-Lewis as it ended all-square at Rodney Parade.

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale made two changes to the Grecians line-up that won at Portsmouth in midweek, with both Matt Oakley and Will Hoskins coming in to start. However, Hoskins wouldn't make it to the starting whistle - he pulled up in the warm-up, with Clinton Morrison taking his starting place.

It had been a very significant week for the Welsh club, with the supporters' trust raising the necessary funds to purchase the club from Lottery winner Les Scadding and manager Terry Butcher being replaced by John Sheridan, who took Plymouth Argyle to the League 2 play-offs last season. Sheridan got a very colourful reception from the Exeter City fans on his way to the dugout thanks to his time in charge of Plymouth Argyle.

It was twenty-one minutes until the game's first sizeable chance, and it came when Joel Grant's cross was blocked. Christian Ribeiro picked up the rebound, and fired another cross into the Newport box which Lee Holmes skied with the goal at his mercy.

Holmes was involved again fifteen minutes later, first having an effort blocked and then unleashing a great curling effort that flew just wide of the top corner. The half would end goalless, with the home side not putting Bobby Olejnik under any great stress.

HALF-TIME: NEWPORT COUNTY 0-0 EXETER CITY