I woke up a little fretful as today was coach Harris’ turn to drive the two of us all the way to Newport, in a socially distanced way of course. I am not saying he is an unsafe driver but he has missed his true vocation of being a fighter pilot. Having closed my eyes for most of the journey I was absolutely certain he had taken a wrong turn as the sun continued to shine and there was not even a hint of rain. Wales without the rain is about as rare as Gladding shouting for the ball.

The warm-up consisted of walk to the pitch, a brisk walk all the back to where we had come from for the toilets and another brisk walk back to the pitch. At least it had given me time to get over my g-force sickness before beginning a normal warm-up.

Gloucester had the greater territorial advantage during the early exchanges without really creating any clear-cut scoring opportunities. Newport slowly began to get their passing game together and push the visitors back. Just as they were gaining the upper-hand, Gloucester struck. A piledriver of a free kick from Harvey was just too powerful for the ‘keeper to keep out. Instead of enthusing the away-side, it served to motivate the home-side and their attacks became more purposeful. Two goals a few minutes apart saw Newport turn the game around and take a deserved lead. The first from a penalty after Neate had upended a striker in the area. Goal line technology would have cleared up the question as to whether the home side had added a third but as the referee could not be sure the ball had crossed the line after hitting the bar and post he was unable to give the goal.

A few home truths during the interval roused the visitors into at least competing equally with the opposition. A Neate strike hit the bar and Aitchenson did well to turn the ball around the post diving down to his right as the game ebbed and flowed. Hardworking and stronger performances by flank players, Hardcastle, Liggett, Neate and Saunders meant Newport were restricted in the wide areas and had to concentrate on going right through the centre of the field. A change in formation gave rise to Gloucester’s best period of the game and they created four virtually identical chances for striker Jonny. All four saw him swivel and fire with his usually deadly left foot but unfortunately none of them found their target. A much better second half performance but Newport still came out victors with a 2-1 win.

The flight, sorry, drive home was uneventful and we definitely did not stop and get a very unhealthy McDonalds meal.