A NEWPORT County XI were taught some harsh lessons as they were outclassed by the supremely talented Chelsea under-23s in Fraser Franks’ benefit match at Spytty Park.

Former Exiles defender Franks, his wife Stacey and baby daughter Nellie collected a cheque for £14,500 before the match – the proceeds from the special third shirt for the new season.

And the 28-year-old, who was forced to retire earlier this year due to a heart problem, will also receive 50 per cent of the takings from this meeting with his first club.

The standing ovation for Franks was in stark contrast to what followed, however.

With most of the first team playing in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Cardiff City training ground in the afternoon, a match which the Exiles lost 9-3 to a strong Bluebirds XI, there was an unfamiliar look about the County team.

Captain Mark O’Brien, who is suspended for the opening game of the season at home to Mansfield Town on August 3, started alongside Lazar Stojsavljevic and Marvel Ekpiteta in defence.

Academy prospect Jay Williams made up the back four and fellow youngster Dom Jefferies started in midfield alongside Keanu Marsh-Brown and two trialists, one of which is believed to be Barry Town United’s Tom Fry.

Momodou Touray lined up in attack alongside another trialist, while a fourth trialist – believed to be Cardiff youngster Warren Burwood – started in goal.

Touray started brightly and went close to opening the scoring after a powerful run and shot that whizzed just wide in the ninth minute.

At the other end Jefferies did well to block a fierce effort from Ian Maatsen and Burwood saved well from Juan Castillo.

South Wales Argus:

County took the lead after half an hour when Jefferies was brought down in the box and Touray sent Karlo Ziger the wrong way from the spot.

But the Blues youngsters soon began to show their quality and classy midfielder Conor Gallagher levelled with a curling free-kick on 34 minutes before Maatsen made it 2-1 two minutes before the break.

Castillo took advantage of a mistake by Williams to slot in the visitors’ third four minutes after the interval and only a fine save from a second trialist goalkeeper denied Tariq Uwakwe another goal on 54 minutes.

But the talented Chelsea side, with Gallagher to the fore, were well on top and Ike Ugbo deservedly added a fourth on 65 minutes.

And it was 5-1 on 78 minutes as substitute Armando Broja stabbed home after Billy Gilmour's shot came back off the post.

Chelsea’s Tino Anjorin should have got on the scoresheet but he blazed over before Ugbo wrapped up the rout with his second in the last minute.

The final notable moment from a County perspective was the introduction of George Franks, brother of Fraser, for the final three minutes of the contest but it was a disappointing evening for everyone apart from the Franks family.

County: Trialist 1 (Trialist 5, 46); Ekpiteta (Jones, 60), O'Brien, Williams, Stojsavljevic; Dom Jefferies, Trialist 2, Trialist 3 (Trialist 6, 46); Marsh-Brown; Trialist 4, Touray (G. Franks, 87)

Attendance: 693