David Artell described his captain’s face as a ‘right mess’ following his battle with Newport County striker Jamille Matt at the weekend.

George Ray was certainly caught in the face by the Newport target man on more than one occasion - but he was still up there in the opposition box winning a crucial penalty two minutes from time.

Chris Porter tucked the spot kick past Joe Day to step up an unbelievable grandstand finish and Callum Ainley obliged with a well struck winner from Jordan Bowery’s cool pass four minutes later to give us an unlikely 3-2 win!

The Alex boss praised Ray for once again showing his leadership qualities against Matt’s physicality. It was an intriguing battled that went on for the 90 plus minutes.

Following the 3-2 win at Gresty Road, the boss told crewealex.net: "The referee let them get away with murder. George Ray's face is a right mess, but I thought he was terrific, he was a proper man, a proper leader. He got angry and it brings out the best in him.

"That's what (Newport) do, and they are good at it. That's why they do so well at home. We could have been better but I don't think they opened us up at any time, maybe one one counter attack.

“We stood up to them really well and it was our own mistakes that led to their two goals.”