McKirdy fires Crawley to win at rivals Newport

Harry McKirdy scores twice against his former club Newport to secure a 2-0 win. [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Harry McKirdy came back to haunt Newport County with a double to boost Crawley's League Two survival hopes at Rodney Parade. McKirdy, who had a spell on loan at the Exiles in 2019, broke the deadlock early into the second half when he finished from close range after a dangerous cross from Ade Adeyemo.

He doubled the Red Devils' lead just before the hour with a header that secured a second successive win for new head coach Colin Kazim-Richards. Crawley are 20th, four points from the relegation zone, while Christian Fuchs' side are three points further back in 22nd after a missed opportunity. The visitors started the stronger in a feisty first half that saw five yellow cards shown.

Crawley came closest to breaking the deadlock after 13 minutes when McKirdy broke through and fired in a cross that evaded everybody. Newport grew into the encounter and thought they'd taken the lead after 34 minutes when Bobby Kamwa controlled the ball and slotted past Jacob Chapman, but he was adjudged to have handled by referee Lewis Smith. The visitors struck in the 57th minute when Adeyemo broke down the right and delivered for McKirdy to finish.

The former County player soon doubled Crawley's lead, heading home from Harry Forster's sumptious cross. Kamwa and Ryan Delaney both went close to pulling a goal back for the Exiles but Crawley kept a second clean sheet on the spin. Bottom club Harrogate and 21st-place Barrow close the gap to Newport with a win against Grimsby and draw at MK Dons respectively.