Grimsby 3-0 Newport
- From the section Football
Newport County will return to Blundell Park in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-offs after defeat by Grimsby.
The Exiles, who had already secured third place, were 3-0 down to the Mariners by half-time.
Goalkeeper Alan Julian was beaten by a long-range free-kick by Jamie Devitt, a deflected shot by Andi Thanoj's and Liam Hearn's superb strike.
The Welsh side will return to Blundell Park for the play-off first leg on Wednesday, 24 April.
This was Grimsby's first home win in the league since February.
County's defeat means they will not face fellow Welsh side Wrexham in the play-offs semi-finals but does set up the prospect of an all-Welsh play-off final at Wembley.
Manager Justin Edinburgh made several changes for his side's final game of the season, knowing they had already booked themselves a play-off semi-final spot.
He would have been disappointed by the manner of his side's defeat to Grimsby, but County are still in the race for promotion back to the Football League.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
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Grimsby Town joint-manager Paul Hurst tells BBC Radio Humberside:
"I'm delighted with the performance, the attitude of the players to get that victory. We know that it's going to be a different Newport side that we're going to face in the two games but we asked our players to do a job and that's what we have to focus on and to a man they did that.
"You can only look after your own team and club and I think we've set ourselves up nicely for those two games.
"We need to make sure we don't put too much pressure on the players because at the same time I'm pretty sure they will be up for the game, the prize is massive. The first goal now is to get to Wembley. "
Newport County manager Justin Edinburgh told BBC Radio Wales:
"I was disappointed with some of our performances today but as a former player I know one eye was on Wednesday [play-off semi-final first leg].
"I don't think anything about our performance today will bear any relevance on Wednesday night. There's so much more at stake.
"I rested quite a few players to make sure we had a full squad to select from on Wednesday."
Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)
Grimsby
- 01 Fleming
- 02 Hatton
- 03 Thomas
- 06 Miller
- 29 Naylor
- 08 Disley (Southwell - 59' )
- 11 Artus Booked
- 15 Devitt
- 21 Thanoj
- 31 Taylor (Marshall - 70' )
- 10 Hearn (Hannah - 59' )
Substitutes
- 04 Niven
- 19 Wood
- 26 Marshall
- 20 Southwell
- 25 Hannah
Newport County
- 01 Julian
- 03 Hughes
- 05 James
- 21 Anthony
- 28 Boateng
- 17 Flynn
- 24 Willmott
- 26 Donnelly Booked (Evans - 84' )
- 30 Gilbey
- 25 Washington (Swallow - 69' )
- 27 Griffiths (Crow - 61' )
Substitutes
- 40 Pidgeley
- 12 Swallow
- 15 Harris
- 34 Evans
- 09 Crow
Live Text Commentary
Full Time The referee signals the end of the game.
90:00 +2:36Ben Swallow has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.
90:00 +2:06The ball is swung over by Ben Swallow, Ian Miller manages to make a clearance.
90:00 +0:14Corner taken right-footed by Marcus Marshall from the right by-line, Aswad Thomas has a header from deep inside the six-yard box and clears the crossbar.
87:59Ben Swallow challenges Jamie Devitt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Greg Fleming.
86:58Andi Thanoj sends in a cross, Ross Hannah takes a shot. Save made by Alan Julian. Dayle Southwell takes a shot. Save made by Alan Julian.
86:00Will Evans concedes a free kick for a foul on Dayle Southwell. Aswad Thomas takes the direct free kick.
85:00Andi Thanoj challenges Michael Flynn unfairly and gives away a free kick. Robbie Willmott takes the free kick.
83:29Greg Fleming takes the free kick.
83:29 SubstitutionSubstitution Will Evans replaces Scott Donnelly.
83:29Frankie Artus fouled by Byron Anthony, the ref awards a free kick.
83:16Outswinging corner taken by Robbie Willmott from the left by-line.
83:01Scott Donnelly has an effort at goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.
82:06Tom Naylor concedes a free kick for a foul on Ben Swallow. Scott Donnelly takes the free kick.
76:10Dayle Southwell has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.
71:54Marcus Marshall delivers the ball, Dayle Southwell takes a shot. Save by Alan Julian.
69:05 SubstitutionSubstitution Cleveland Taylor leaves the field to be replaced by Marcus Marshall.
68:21 SubstitutionSubstitution Ben Swallow comes on in place of Conor Washington.
66:43Shot by Scott Donnelly from outside the box goes over the net.
63:59Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tom Naylor by Conor Washington. Free kick taken by Greg Fleming.
Dayle Southwell is caught offside. Alan Julian restarts play with the free kick.
60:54 SubstitutionSubstitution Danny Crow replaces Rhys Griffiths.
59:50Byron Anthony gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Dayle Southwell. Sam Hatton shoots direct from the free kick.
58:21 SubstitutionSubstitution Dayle Southwell joins the action as a substitute, replacing Craig Disley.
58:21 SubstitutionSubstitution Liam Hearn goes off and Ross Hannah comes on.
57:53Liam Hearn concedes a free kick for a foul on Michael Boateng. Direct free kick taken by Alan Julian.
55:47The free kick is swung in right-footed by Sam Hatton.
55:47 BookingBooking Caution for Scott Donnelly.
55:42Aswad Thomas fouled by Scott Donnelly, the ref awards a free kick.
54:36Rhys Griffiths gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aswad Thomas. Greg Fleming restarts play with the free kick.
54:14Jamie Devitt takes a shot. Save by Alan Julian.
53:57Corner taken short by Jamie Devitt.
53:24Michael Flynn produces a right-footed shot from long distance which goes wide right of the goal.
52:03Rhys Griffiths challenges Tom Naylor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sam Hatton. Tom Naylor produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
50:35Robbie Willmott takes a shot. Greg Fleming makes a save.
50:11Corner taken by Robbie Willmott from the right by-line, clearance made by Craig Disley.
49:22Foul by Andi Thanoj on Rhys Griffiths, free kick awarded. Conor Washington restarts play with the free kick.
49:01Michael Flynn takes a shot. Frankie Artus gets a block in.
47:52Conor Washington is caught offside. Greg Fleming restarts play with the free kick.
46:08Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Liam Hearn by Scott Donnelly. Greg Fleming takes the direct free kick.
45:24The offside flag is raised against Jamie Devitt. Alan Julian takes the free kick.
45:01The match restarts for the second half.
45:00 +2:13 Half timeHalf Time The referee blows for half time.
45:00 +0:33Robbie Willmott produces a cross. Alex Gilbey takes a shot. Greg Fleming makes a save.
43:23Frankie Artus provided the assist for the goal.
43:23 Goal scoredGoal! - Liam Hearn - Grimsby 3 - 0 Newport Liam Hearn gets on the score sheet with a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Grimsby 3-0 Newport County.
43:20Centre by Frankie Artus,
41:17The ball is delivered by Robbie Willmott, Conor Washington takes a shot. Save made by Greg Fleming.
41:05The ball is delivered by Robbie Willmott, Tom Naylor manages to make a clearance.
38:28The ball is crossed by Robbie Willmott, Close range headed effort by Conor Washington misses to the right of the target.
35:12Liam Hearn takes a shot. Alan Julian makes a save.
33:46Corner taken by Jamie Devitt played to the near post, clearance by Scott Donnelly.
33:27A cross is delivered by Jamie Devitt, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Tom Naylor misses to the left of the goal.
33:09Jamie Devitt decides to take a short corner.
32:57Handball decision goes against Alex Gilbey. Free kick taken by Sam Hatton.
32:04Michael Boateng sends in a cross, clearance by Sam Hatton.
29:25The ball is crossed by Alex Gilbey.
28:57Robbie Willmott takes a shot. Ian Miller gets a block in.
27:28Conor Washington takes a shot. Tom Naylor gets a block in.
25:06Rhys Griffiths gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andi Thanoj. Direct free kick taken by Sam Hatton.
23:17 Goal scoredGoal! - Andi Thanoj - Grimsby 2 - 0 Newport A goal is scored by Andi Thanoj from outside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Grimsby 2-0 Newport County.
22:31A cross is delivered by Robbie Willmott.
20:16Jamie Devitt takes a shot. Blocked by Byron Anthony. Frankie Artus takes a shot. Blocked by Tony James. Jamie Devitt takes a inswinging corner. Jamie Devitt takes a outswinging corner.
19:45Short corner taken by Jamie Devitt.
19:16Cleveland Taylor fouled by Rhys Griffiths, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Greg Fleming.
17:47 Goal scoredGoal! - Jamie Devitt - Grimsby 1 - 0 Newport Jamie Devitt hits the back of the net with a goal direct from the free kick from outside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Grimsby 1-0 Newport County.
17:10Michael Boateng challenges Jamie Devitt unfairly and gives away a free kick.
16:09Foul by Liam Hearn on Tony James, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Tony James.
15:11The ball is sent over by Sam Hatton, save by Alan Julian.
13:32Michael Boateng challenges Frankie Artus unfairly and gives away a free kick. Greg Fleming restarts play with the free kick.
13:06Foul by Tom Naylor on Rhys Griffiths, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Michael Flynn.
11:28Free kick taken by Tony James.
11:28 BookingBooking Frankie Artus goes into the book.
11:11Frankie Artus concedes a free kick for a foul on Scott Donnelly.
10:10Conor Washington takes a shot. Blocked by Alan Julian. Shot from 20 yards from Scott Donnelly. Save by Alan Julian.
9:05Jamie Devitt produces a right-footed shot from a long way out which goes wide right of the goal.
6:23Free kick awarded for a foul by Frankie Artus on Scott Donnelly. Free kick taken by Michael Flynn. Robbie Willmott produces a cross, Greg Fleming makes a save.
5:05The ball is swung over by Sam Hatton.
1:09Conor Washington takes a shot. Save by Greg Fleming. Unfair challenge on Conor Washington by Aswad Thomas results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Scott Donnelly.
0:00The referee gets the game underway.
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