Match report

Newport County Defeats Harrogate Town 2-1 in League Two Thriller

Newport County
Newport County
2–1
FT
Harrogate Town
Harrogate Town
Apr 11, 2026

Newport County held off a spirited Harrogate Town to secure a vital 2-1 win in their League Two clash. The home side took the lead through Nana Opoku early on but were pegged back by Jack Evans' equalizer. However, a second-half goal from Josh Thomas sealed the points for Newport County, ensuring they maintain their position in the League Two table.

Key Facts

  • • Newport County defeated Harrogate Town 2-1 in League Two
  • • Nana Opoku opened the scoring for Newport County in the 8th minute
  • • Jack Evans equalized for Harrogate Town in the 39th minute
  • • Josh Thomas scored the winning goal for Newport County in the 57th minute
  • • Jack Evans received a yellow card in the 45th minute for Harrogate Town
  • • Chris Evans and James Crole received yellow cards for Newport County

Lineups

Newport County

Formation: 3-5-2

Starting XI

  • 28 Jordan Wright (G)
  • 15 Lee Jenkins (D)
  • 23 Ryan Delaney (D)
  • 4 Matthew Baker (D)
  • 12 Joe Thomas (M)
  • 2 Cameron Evans (M)
  • 10 Harrison Biggins (M)
  • 5 Sven Sprangler (M)
  • 20 Ben Lloyd (M)
  • 16 James Crole (F)
  • 24 Nathaniel Opoku (F)

Substitutes

  • 13 Shaun MacDonald
  • 40 Cole Jarvis
  • 7 Bobby Kamwa
  • 6 Ciaran Brennan
  • 21 Michael Spellman
  • 17 Thomas Davies
  • 8 Matthew Smith

Harrogate Town

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 13 Henry Gray (G)
  • 16 Chanse Headman (D)
  • 31 Cathal Heffernan (D)
  • 30 Liam Gibson (D)
  • 3 Jacob Slater (D)
  • 8 Bryn Morris (M)
  • 4 Jack Evans (M)
  • 21 Ellis Taylor (M)
  • 38 Tobias Brenan (M)
  • 11 Stephen Duke-McKenna (M)
  • 9 Shawn McCoulsky (F)

Substitutes

  • 12 Emile Acquah
  • 17 Levi Sutton
  • 7 George Thomson
  • 33 Sam Waller
  • 24 Lewis Cass
  • 6 Warren Burrell
  • 20 Bobby Faulkner

Timeline

  1. Newport County
    8' Newport County Goal · Normal Goal
    N. Opoku · Assist: B. Lloyd
  2. Harrogate Town
    39' Harrogate Town Goal · Normal Goal
    Jack Evans · Assist: Jacob Slater
  3. Harrogate Town
    45' Harrogate Town Card · Yellow Card
    Jack Evans

    Foul

  4. Harrogate Town
    57' Harrogate Town subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Chanse Headman · On: B. Faulkner
  5. Newport County
    57' Newport County Goal · Normal Goal
    J. Thomas · Assist: J. Crole
  6. Newport County
    62' Newport County Card · Yellow Card
    C. Evans

    Foul

  7. Newport County
    68' Newport County subst · Substitution 1
    Off: J. Thomas · On: Thomas Davies
  8. Harrogate Town
    70' Harrogate Town subst · Substitution 2
    Off: T. Brenan · On: E. Acquah
  9. Harrogate Town
    70' Harrogate Town subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Jacob Slater · On: L. Cass
  10. Newport County
    83' Newport County Card · Yellow Card
    J. Crole

    Unsportsmanlike conduct

  11. Newport County
    84' Newport County subst · Substitution 2
    Off: N. Opoku · On: B. Kamwa
  12. Newport County
    84' Newport County subst · Substitution 3
    Off: S. Sprangler · On: C. Brennan
  13. Harrogate Town
    90'+4 Harrogate Town subst · Substitution 4
    Off: E. Taylor · On: G. Thomson

Match Stats

Stat Newport County Harrogate Town
Fouls 7 13
Pass Accuracy 48% 54%
Offsides 4 2
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 11 8
Corners 8 6
Total Passes 234 260
Yellow Cards 2 1
Blocked Shots 4 3
Shots on Target 3 2
xG — —
Shots off Target 4 3
Possession 48% 52%
Goals Prevented — —
Accurate Passes 113 141
Shots Inside Box 6 5
Saves 1 0
Shots Outside Box 5 3

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Nana Opoku's early goal in the 8th minute gave Newport County a perfect start, setting the tone for the match
  • ▸ Josh Thomas' goal in the 57th minute proved to be the decisive moment, allowing Newport County to regain the lead and secure the win