Loan Watch: Payne helps topple league leaders
Another productive weekend has passed for many of Southampton’s loanees, as Lewis Payne featured in an impressive victory on Saturday. This and more in our latest Loan Watch…
In League Two, Payne made a fourth-consecutive start for Newport County as they hosted league leaders Stockport County, who boasted an impressive 12-match winning streak.
The visitors were on the verge of breaking the league record, but were dealt a blow as Newport took the lead on the stroke of half time.
Payne was then involved in the second goal as things got even better for the Welsh side; Saints’ on-loan full-back delivered a deep cross that was diverted into Shane McLoughlin’s path and duly dispatched into the far corner in some style.
The 19-year-old played the full 90 minutes as The Exiles held on for a 2-1 victory and lifted themselves up to 16th in the table.
Up in League One, it was an unfortunate Saturday for Dom Ballard, who started in Reading’s trip to Wycombe Wanderers but was stretchered off with what appeared to be a significant injury after just 30 minutes. Everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery.
Outside of the Football League, Jack Bycroft made his fourth consecutive start for Oxford City as they drew 2-2 with fellow promoted side Kidderminster Harriers.
The point didn’t help either side in the league table, but Oxford have now lost just once in the four games since Bycroft’s arrival.
Down a division, fellow goalkeeper Josh McNamara picked up his first win with St Albans City in his third appearance for the club.
After a midweek defeat against Weston-super-Mare, McNamara and The Saints returned to winning ways with a 3-2 triumph over playoff-hopefuls Maidstone.
Elsewhere, Luke Pearce made back-to-back starts for Dover Athletic against two of his former loan sides, playing 90 minutes in a midweek draw with Eastbourne before lasting the first half in Saturday’s defeat against Weston-super-Mare.
Lastly in England, Under-18s midfielder Josh Squires made a late cameo for Basingstoke Town in a defeat against title-chasing Chesham United in the Southern League Premier South.
In Europe, Mateusz Lis kept his eighth clean sheet in 13 games as Göztepe returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Tuzlaspor in the Turkish Second Division.
Finally, Romain Perraud was introduced off the bench as Nice beat Toulouse 1-0 in Ligue 1 to maintain their unbeaten start to the season and second place in the table.
Main image: Lewis Payne in Newport action (Photo: Newport County)