Newport County 0, Plymouth Argyle 1
Newport County’s dream, of playing Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup is over.
Their defeat in a second round replay at Rodney Parade gives Plymouth the lucrative match at Liverpool, which could be worth half a million pounds to the Devon club.
The winner was scored by Graham Carey from a penalty after 113 minutes.
These teams drew 0-0 in the first game at Home Park and there were no goals in regulation time at Rodney Parade.
County, wearing their amber kit with black trim, produced a big team performance.
They are bottom of League Two, but they matched leaders Plymouth in a fierce contested cup tie.
The difference was Argyle substitute David Goodwillie, who played a leading role when he went on and won the penalty which led to their winner.
Manager Graham Westley will demand Newport produce the same kind of quality in their League matches, starting at home against Portsmouth on Boxing Day (3pm).
He gave teenage midfield player Finlay Wood, a product of the club’s academy, his first senior start and the young Welshman did well alongside Josh Sheehan.
Argyle had a big chance to go ahead when they were awarded a penalty seven minutes into extra time.
Full-back Dennison Myrie-Williams handled inside the penalty area and referee Dean Whitestone pointed to the spot.
Plymouth substitute Paul Garita sent County goalkeeper Joe Day went the wrong way, but his shot rebounded off a post and home defenders scrambled the ball to safety.
The visitors were awarded a second penalty in the second period of extra time. Goodwillie held the ball up and it was Newport’s Darren Jones who dived in and conceded an unnecessary spot-kick.
County cannot be faulted in terms of character, spirit and effort, but they could not quite find a goal.
They have gone six games without a win in league and cup, failing to score in four of those matches.
There were chances for the home team. The best came when Josh O’Hanlon burst clear one-on-one after 73 minutes, Joss Labadie providing the pass, and he was denied by the sprawling figure of goalkeeper Luke McCormick.
Victory would have given County their first FA Cup tie at a top flight stadium for the first time since 1983, when they lost 2-1 against Everton at Goodison Park, but it wasn’t to be.
Newport must now focus entirely on climbing towards safety in League Two and put their FA Cup disappointment behind them.
That starts against Portsmouth at home this Saturday.
Newport County: J Day, J Barnum-Bobb, D Jones, J Myrie-Williams, B Tozer, S Bennett, J Labadie (A Meite ), J Sheehan, F Wood J Green 67), M Jackson, M Jackson (J O’Hanlon 67), R Healey. Subs not used: D Butler, M Randall, P Bignott, J Bittner.
Plymouth Argyle: L McCormick, G Miller, Y Sango’o, S Bradley, O Threlkeld, C Smith, J Jervis D (D Goodwillie 69), D Fox, C Tanner (P Garita 67), J Slew. Subs not used: N Bulvitis, D Goodwillie, K Osbourne, L Rooney, V Dorel.
Referee: Dean Whitestone.