City twice come from behind to secure Exiles pre-season draw

City twice came from behind to draw their final home pre-season match 2-2 against League 2 side Newport County this afternoon.

The visitors dominated possession during the opening 20 minutes without ever really testing Harvey Wiles-Richards in the City goal. And it was the Romans who had the first clear opening on 23 minutes when Harry Parsons directed a header narrowly wide. Wiles-Richards was then called into action twice in quick successive – parrying Smith’s free-kick then blocking Moses Alexander-Walker – who spent the second half of last season on loan with City – low shot. Newport broke the deadlock on 41 minutes. Garner’s shot was headed wide but a deflection off Ollie Tomlinson saw it find the corner of the net past Wiles-Richards despairing dive. City almost levelled on the stroke of half-time when great work by Reuben Reid saw him tee up Parsons but his shot was well blocked by a defender.

However, within four minutes of the restart City made it 1-1, albeit in slightly fortuitus circumstances when Danny Greenslade’s corner curled straight into the net. Newport regained the lead six minutes later through Halpin’s header from a corner. City were now matching the higher division Welsh side and with eleven minutes levelled again. Academy substitute Seweryn Streczen did brilliantly to retain possession down the left flank and he crossed for Alex Fisher to lift the ball over the keeper. City came the closest to winning the game after this when Donovan Wilson saw his goalbound shot blocked but it was another good workout for the Romans.