Newport County 2 (Jolley 86, O’Connor 90+4) Wrexham 0
NEWPORT COUNTY won the battle of Wales at Wembley to book themselves a place in League Two.
Late goals from Christian Jolley and substitute Aaron O’Connor under the famous arch sent the Exiles back into the Football League for the first time since 1988.
Justin Edinburgh’s men took their chances as Wrexham once again narrowly missed out on promotion.
Both sides were reluctant to show their hands too early and we endured a relatively quiet opening 20 minutes before Brett Ormerod cut inside Andy Sandell down Wrexham’s right, jinked onto his left-foot but fired the ball into the side-netting.
Newport came back with long-rage efforts from Andy Sandell and then Alex Gilbey but both failed to test Wrexham keeper Chris Maxwell.
Five minutes later, Jay Harris whipped in a delightful ball to the back post but a stretching Ormerod could only guide his header over the bar.
The Red Dragons continued to stay firm at the back and looked dangerous when they ventured forward. Ormerod did brilliantly to pick out Johnny Hunt and the left-winger found him in the penalty area but the former Blackpool man saw his difficult volley go well over. And then the veteran striker let rip with a 25-yarder that flew wide of Lenny Pidgeley’s right-hand post.
The Exiles finished the first-half with a flurry and almost grabbed the lead. Michael Flynn found Christian Jolley inside the penalty area and the former AFC Wimbledon man curled an effort that narrowly missed the right-hand post.
Lee Minshull then maybe should have done better from a free-kick but his hooked shot with his left-foot didn’t have any power on it.
Newport picked up where they left off after the break, Gilbey putting Jolley through on the right but his cut back was too close to Maxwell who easily gathered.
But the best chance of the match came soon after. Wrexham right-back Stephen Wright played in player-boss Andy Morrell with a deft flick but Pidgeley managed to parry his effort. The ball dropped straight to Ormerod but, off balance, he skewed his shot wide from close-range.
A few minutes later and Pidgeley saved the day yet again. Harris’ disguised pass found Hunt in the penalty area but the former Chelsea keeper showed strong hands to keep out his effort.
With both sides desperate not to lose, the game once again entered one of its quieter periods as Wrexham super sub Adrian Cieslewicz and Newport top scorer O’Connor entered the fray.
Jolley once again threatened and but for a fantastic last-ditch block from Martin Riley, he may have troubled keeper Maxwell.
The Exiles always looked dangerous on the counter attack and with the pace of Jolley, always had an outlet. And they used it to full effect as the striker coolly steered the ball beyond Maxwell with four minutes left.
And it was left to O’Connor to put the icing on the cake as he powered his effort past Maxwell to send the Exiles into the Football League.
Newport County (3-5-2): Pidgeley; Yakubu, James, Anthony; Pipe, Flynn (Donnelly 74), Gilbey, Minshull, Sandell; Jolley, Crow (O’Connor 62)
Subs not used: Julian, Hughes, Willmott
Wrexham (4-3-3): Maxwell; Wright, Riley, Artell, Ashton; Harris (Adebola 88), Keates (Little 79), Clarke; Hunt, Morrell (Cieslewicz 67), Ormerod
Subs not used: Coughlin, Little, Westwood
Attendance: 16,346
Referee: Michael Bull (Essex)
