Newport County 1-1 Notts County (EFL League Two) 02.08.2025

New Notts County manager, Martin Paterson, saw his side held in the League Two season opener at Rodney Parade, they drawing 1-1 with hosts Newport County.

Delayed an hour due to a medical emergency inside the stadium, referee Jamie O’Connor finally started the game at 4pm as a typical, season opener, saw both sides cancel each other in a goalless first half.

Conor Grant and Tom Iorpenda both missed great chances inside the opening fifteen minutes for the visitors, they also seeing a penalty appeal turned away on twenty minutes as well, the opening half mustering little.

The second half was only minutes old however when the hosts took the lead as Gerard Gardner headed the opener past Dutchman, Kelle Roos, in the visiting goal; the lead lasted around fifteen minutes though as Matthew Dennis was fouled in the penalty area, and Jodi Jones stepped up to equalise.

Both sides had chances to snatch the three points, but both had to settle for a point in an opening day draw; next up for the Magpies, it’s back to Meadow Lane as they welcome Salford City on Saturday (9 August), before the opening round of the League Cup sees them on the road at Wigan Athletic a week on Tuesday (12 August).

NOTTS COUNTY – Kelle Roos, Barry Cotter (Curtis Edwards, 79), Sonny Aljofree, Matty Platt, Jacob Bedeau, Ton Iorpenda, Matthew Palmer, Kellan Gordon (Keanen Bennetts, 54), Jodi Jones (Jayden Luker, 79), Matthew Dennis (Maziar Koudyar, 87), Conor Grant (Oliver Norburn, 55)

On a pretty much low-scoring opening day in League Two there was a 3-0 win for Grimsby Town at home to Crawley Town, and a 3-1 win for Crewe Alexandra at Salford City (Conor Thomas with a late brace); Fleetwood Town won 2-0 away to Barnet, and ten-man Walsall edged visiting Swindon Town 2-1 thanks to a stoppage time winner from Connor Bennett.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Official_NCFC Jodi Jones was on the spot for Notts.