In late October of the 1945/1946 season, Ted Magner’s Derby County team made the journey to Somerton Park in South Wales to face Newport County in the Football League South. Just a week earlier, the Rams had comfortably triumphed 4-1 at the Baseball Ground, with Duncan (two), Doherty, and Powell all on the scoresheet.

The Derby Evening Telegraph’s match report was headlined, “Newport Was a ‘Piece of Cake’ for the Rams,” penned by journalist Mark Eaton. He continued the culinary metaphor, suggesting that Newport were “such a palatable dish that they were fortunate to escape with nothing more severe than a 4-1 defeat.”

In the first half Newport held their own, but the Rams’ forwards were waiting for the inevitable breakthrough. After the break, Derby’s attacking trio put on a dazzling display. Eaton quoted home officials who claimed it was “a superb exhibition, the like of which has not been seen at Newport for many years.”

The Rams’ forward line of Doherty, Duncan, and Morrison were impressive with Irish international Doherty showing exceptional ball control, intelligent passing, and “a body swerve which often had the opposition going the wrong way”.

It was Doherty who gave Derby an early lead, scoring in the fourth minute. On the half-hour, Morrison added to the tally with the first of what would become a hat-trick. Newport briefly threatened when Owen converted a penalty in the 74th minute after Trim was adjudged to have pushed in the area, although Rams’ goalkeeper Boulton got a hand to the ball.

Morrison restored Derby’s two-goal advantage in the 80th minute. Out on the right wing, he collected the ball from Crooks, cleverly eluded a Newport defender, then cut inside and unleashed a “terrific left-foot drive while running at full speed.” The ball struck the foot of the upright and sailed past a helpless Ferguson in the Newport goal. Morrison completed the scoring, and his hat-trick, in the 85th minute.

Newport County: Ferguson, Roberts, Webb, W. M. Owen, Low, Thomas, Wookey, Wilkins, Kinnell, Carr, Newcombe

Derby County: Boulton, Nicholas, Trim, Hann, Leuty, Musson, Crooks, Powell, Morrison, Doherty, Duncan

Referee: Captain F. C. Green (Wolverhampton)
Attendance: 14,000

The official programme for the game was a simple four-page issue, with a prominent advertisement for Electricity Showrooms on High Street, Newport, dominating the front cover. The team line-ups were featured on the centre pages, surrounded by further adverts.

On the back page, “Ironside” contributed notes recalling a previous encounter between the teams on 1 May 1939. On that occasion, George Jobey’s representative side won 3-1 in a friendly match, which was arranged as part of the transfer of Jackie Brinton. The Rams’ lineup included Nicholas (Wales), Ronnie Dix (England), and McCullough (Scotland).

At the close of the 1945/1946 season, Derby finished in fourth place in the Football League South table with 55 points, having scored 101 goals in 42 games. Newport, by contrast, endured a tough season, losing 31 of their 42 matches and finishing second from bottom.

Ted Magner’s tenure ended in January 1946 when he left to work abroad, but not before guiding Derby to the fourth round of the FA Cup. After his departure, Stuart McMillan took the reins, leading the team to a historic FA Cup victory, defeating Charlton 4-1 after extra time in the final at Wembley.