NEWPORT County’s impressive pre-season was capped today with the Exiles completing an unbeaten summer period with a 3-0 win at a West Ham United development side.
County will be relishing the real action getting underway next weekend when Wycombe visit Rodney Parade after they proved too strong for a Hammers side that included £5 million striker Modigo Maiga.
Manager Justin Edinburgh chopped and changed his side following the excellent wins over Carl Zeiss Jena and Coventry City at Spytty Park and only left back Andrew Hughes played 90 minutes, the rest of the team switched at the interval.
However, the Exiles were the dominant force throughout, taking the lead in the first period on 28 minutes when summer signing Yan Klukowski swooped home to score with a header after Hughes and Joe Parker combined to create the opportunity.
Edinburgh then had a first opportunity to look at trialist goalkeeper Simon Thomas as he was introduced with ten others at the break and he’ll be content to have maintained the clean sheet.
The County second half XI was perhaps closer to the one that will start the campaign and that told as Newport powered on, Chris Zebroski doubling the advantage before turning provider for Rene Howe, who added yet another goal to what has been an eye-catching period for him.
The Exiles finished the stronger side and Howe, Aaron O’Connor and Lee Minshull all spurned opportunities to make it 4-0.
Byron Anthony came through 45 minutes unscathed as he continues to step up his rehabilitation to earn a contract for the coming season.
County first half: Pidgeley, Willmott, Hughes, Jones, Feely, Klukowski, Flynn, Chapman, Parker, Jolley, Jeffers County second half: Thomas, Jackson, Hughes, Yakubu, Anthony, Patten, Byrne, Minshull, Howe, Zebroski, O’Connor
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