Total Network Solutions 3 Newport County 0

NEWPORT County suffered their first-ever defeat in the group stages of the FAW Premier Cup and, despite the ill-luck of an own goal setting TNS on their way, Tim Harris' team can have little complaint at the final outcome.

It had looked promising in the initial stages with TNS keeper Dean Williams having to save from Garry Shephard and Mike Fowler having a free kick opportunity but, by the time Shephard had placed another effort just over the angle on 15 minutes, County were trailing.

The full-time Welsh Premier side obviously practice their set pieces and the first of several examples of well-worked moves gave them a 12th minute lead. Martin Naylor played the ball to Chris King, whose first-time header hit Matt Rose and looped over Pat Mountain into the far corner.

Although Williams had to make another stop from Shephard, it was TNS who almost built on their lead with Pat Mountain having to make a terrific save from John Leah's free kick and Leah was inches over with a header from the corner that followed.

A trio of injuries from the game didn't help County's cause with Nathan Davies (groin), Jeff Eckhardt (hamstring) and Neil Davis (calf) all having to leave last night's match at some stage, but TNS were always going to be the most difficult opposition in the group.

They dominated the second half with John Toner and Justin Perry threatening before two goals in a minute settled the destination of the three points. Once again, the effectiveness of free kicks and corners was the vital factor.

Scott Ruscoe was allowed to run down the right and cross for Steve Antrobus to stab the ball home from close range. Antrobus was on hand immediately afterwards when a left wing corner saw another close range shot hit the back of Pat Mountain's net.

Teenagers Allan Stevenson and Josh Dupres got their chance for the last twenty minutes and Stevenson's ability to go forward seemed to pep things up with a couple of chances developing but Fowler hit a shot straight at Williams and Steve Cowe drifted a shot across rather than at the face of goal.

Total Network Solutions: D Williams, M Naylor (M Wilde 75), C King, T Holmes, S Evans, C Taylor, S Ruscoe, J Toner (S Antrobus 61), J Perry (D Bridgewater 71), G Brabin, J Leah. Subs: G Doherty, S Rogers.

Newport County AFC: P Mountain, A Thomas, S Benton, B Clark, J Eckhardt (J Dupres 71), N Davies (S Walker 46), M Rose, M Fowler, N Davis (A Stevenson 69), G Shephard, S Cowe. Subs: R Plant, T Hart. Bookings: Benton (16), Clark (44).