NEWPORT County U18s opened their South West Counties Youth League season with a visit to Cirencester Academy.

County headed home with a deserved 2-0 victory under their belts after a hard-fought game between two evenly-matched sides.

The County Academy are fielding teams in both the Football League Youth Alliance and the SWCYL for the first time this season and coach Steve Davies mixed and matched his team at Cirencester with no competing Alliance fixture on the day.

County took the lead towards the end of the first half when Brad Flay bundled home from close range, though there was more than a suspicion of handball about the goal.

Cirencester, coached by former County great Steve Lowndes, had a number of chances to equalise but found Newport keeper Jake Keating in great shot-stopping form.

Nathan Doe sealed the win for County with an unstoppable shot from inside the penalty area in the second half.

This Saturday County U18s are at home to Dorchester Town in the SWCYL. The match kicks off at 10.30am at Llanrumney. In the Alliance, County travel to Oxford United also on Saturday.