FREE-SCORING Newport County may have plundered 14 goals in two games, but they're quite rightly not getting carried away.

Their 6-1 success at Chepstow Town on Saturday was not even 24 hours after their 8-1 demolition job of Newport YMCA on Friday night - however, everything must be kept in perspective.

Without belittling their Welsh League opponents, YM and Chepstow will not be their toughest assignments of the forthcoming season. The double-header allowed the Dr Martens League side to brush off their close-season cobwebs and assess how their pre-season preparations are going.

On the other side of the coin, YM and Chepstow will not play a team with the quality and organisational skills that County possess - so it was a worthwhile exercise for all.

Nicholas fielded 24 players in the 180 minutes of football over the weekend, using the two outings to give all of his players a run-out while also running the rule over the half-dozen triallists he's currently considering.

Chepstow, though, were no walk-overs, and proved another vital learning curve for the Exiles' youth academy products who were given their chance to shine. Mark Price's side is full of big, strong and physical players who were no shrinking violets in the face of Newport's lively and energetic youngsters.

And the Monmouthshire hosts took an early tenth-minute lead as burly frontman Shane Williams headed Craig Johnson's right-wing cross past County keeper Ryan Idzi.

Experienced defender Jason Perry drew Newport level five minutes later, converting triallist Christian James' corner.

Chepstow hung on well as County bombarded the hosts' goal - and Town stopper Matthew Long made a superb reaction save from young striker John Phillips' overhead kick.

But five minutes after the break Long was left red-faced and Phillips got his own back. Raith Plant's flick forward looked harmless as Long seemed to have control, but the keeper dithered and was tackled by Phillips, who tapped the ball into the net.

Striker Kristian Hanbury, at Welsh League Division One Llanwern last year, looked extremely lively and made a good impression scoring twice - the third and sixth.

Nicky Palmer, formerly of relegated Welsh Premier side Llanelli, played well at left-wing-back and got forward to scored the fourth. Both Palmer and Hanbury did well and the pair will almost certainly get another opportunity to prove their worth to Nicholas in County's busy pre-season schedule. Newport's fifth goal was a Jason Perry penalty.

The game was marred in the final five minutes as referee Mike Kendall asked County triallist James, who struggled throughout, and Chepstow's Carl Evans to leave the field following a spat on the half-way line.

County manager Peter Nicholas beamed: "The two games were an excellent workout and I was very pleased with our fitness levels.

"The results mean nothing and we're obviously not getting too carried away. I'm glad we have scored a few goals.

"We want to work on our attacking play and give the strikers lots of confidence."

Chepstow Town: M Long, M Parfitt, M Waddon, L Kidman, B Graham, P Shepherd, C Johnson, C Leycott, S Williams, R Andrews, C Evans subs (all used) P Harris, M Davies, F Pattison, O Hunt, S Woodward.

Newport County: R Idzi, A Stevenson, N Palmer, S O'Brien, L Stone, J Perry, N Davies, C James, R Plant, J Phillips, K Hanbury subs (all used) S O'Sullivan, S Williams, C Rogers, G Moores, A Williams, A Thomas.

* Pictured is County's young winger Chris Rogers, scampering past Newport YMCA defender Leon Spargo