Stadium evacuation issued moments before match commencement, with two air ambulances touch-down on the playing field
Newport County and Notts County played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in their League Two season opener, with both teams showing resilience amidst an unexpected disruption.
The match, initially scheduled for a 3pm kick-off, was delayed by an hour due to a medical emergency in the stands. Fans were promptly evacuated from Rodney Parade as an air ambulance landed on the pitch to attend to the individual involved.
In the 49th minute, Gerard Garner scored for the home side, giving Newport County the lead. However, Jodi Jones responded nearly 15 minutes later for Notts County, converting a penalty to level the score.
The incident did not deter the determination of either team, and the match continued with a renewed intensity. The home side, under the guidance of new manager David Hughes, started the new season as one of the favourites to be relegated following a challenging 2024/25 campaign.
Notts County, on the other hand, finished the previous season in a strong sixth position, qualifying for the play-offs. Unfortunately, they were unable to secure promotion, losing out to AFC Wimbledon in the play-offs last season.
Both teams showed sportsmanship throughout the game, with Newport County and Notts County expressing their well wishes for the ill supporter. The match eventually concluded in a draw, with both teams earning a valuable point each.
As the air ambulance that landed on the pitch made its way to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, the focus shifted back to the football pitch, where both teams will be hoping for a more routine encounter in their next fixtures.
[1] Newport County score through Jodi Jones from a penalty. [2] Notts County respond with an equaliser from the penalty spot. [3] The match ends in a 1-1 draw. [4] Both teams express their well wishes for the ill supporter.
Despite the disruption caused by a medical emergency, both Newport County and Notts County displayed resilience throughout the game. In the second half, Jodi Jones scored from a penalty to equalize for Notts County, countering an earlier goal by Gerard Garner for Newport County. The match ultimately ended in a 1-1 draw, with both teams showing sportsmanship and expressing their well wishes for the ill supporter. The Premier League football season continues as these two teams look forward to their next fixtures.
