Football Season Review

Newport County enjoyed a successful 2017/18 season under manager Michael Flynn which included a memorable run in the F.A. Cup. The Exiles spent much of last summer still celebrating having pulled off one of the most remarkable escapes from relegation with a last-minute winner to beat Notts on the last day of the season. Michael Flynn was the inspiration behind that success and his appointment was unsurprisingly made permanent. He overhauled the squad he had inherited last summer, reducing it significantly whilst making some shrewd additions in the likes of midfielders Matty Dolan and Robbie Willmott and they made an encouraging start to the campaign, losing just two of the opening ten league matches. They were challenging for the play-offs in November but made progress in F.A.Cup which saw them draw at home with Leeds United in the third round. Striker Shawn McCoulsky, on loan from Bristol City, headed home a last-minute winner to pull off a cup shock and they were rewarded with a home draw against Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur. They held on for a goal-less draw before being beaten 2-0 in the replay at Wembley. Their cup exploits distracted them from the league however and their play-off hopes were dealt a serious blow when they were thrashed 5-0 at Mansfield Town in the next game. They had to settle for an 11th-place finish in the League Two table, which is a considerable improvement on 12 months earlier and can use it as the basis for a concerted play-off challenge next season. Goalkeeper Joe Day and defender Mickey Demetriou were ever-present whilst striker Pádraig Amond finished as leading goalscorer with 13 goals. Ben White had an impressive season on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion whilst full-back Dan Butler was voted player of the year for a second successive season.

Player of the Season: Dan Butler