Oldham Athletic 0-1 Newport County: Kevin Ellison nets late Exiles winner

Newport's Kevin Ellison wheels away after his header beats Oldham Athletic goalkeeper Danny RogersImage source, Huw Evans picture agency
Image caption,

Newport's Kevin Ellison wheels away after his header beats Oldham Athletic goalkeeper Danny Rogers

Kevin Ellison's 88th-minute goal saw Newport County claim an opening-day victory at Oldham Athletic.

The Exiles, last season's losing League Two play-off finalists, had looked set to settle for a goalless draw at Boundary Park.

But substitute Ellison, 42, glanced home a header from Ryan Haynes' cross to give Mike Flynn's side three points.

Carl Piergianni came closest for Oldham as he twice headed off target.

Newport defender Mickey Demetriou thought he had broken the deadlock when he headed home just before the hour, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.

Summer signing Ousseynou Cisse fired wide for Oldham, while Newport debutant Ed Upson saw a long-range effort saved.

The Exiles' starting side featured only five survivors from the team which began May's play-off defeat to Morecambe.

Ellison had come off the bench to no avail at Wembley, but it was a different story as his decisive contribution saw Newport make the perfect start to the new campaign.

Newport County manager Mike Flynn:

"We controlled the game, didn't really create enough. We have played a lot better than that and lost, so I am delighted to get three points.

"It's been a tough week. Wayne (Hatswell, assistant manager) has had to bury his aunty. My dad had a suspected heart attack yesterday. We have had Matty Dolan go down, Courtney Baker-Richardson go down, we have had a tough week.

"We had nowhere to train Wednesday, so that's made it all worthwhile."

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