NEWPORT County AFC couldn’t repeat their FA Cup heroics of the last two seasons as they fell at the third-round stage against Championship challengers Millwall.

There were 54 places between the two sides at kick-off and, despite worrying the hosts at the start of the second half, County were no match for last season’s quarter-finalists.

An early goal for Matt Smith put the hosts in charge at The Den and, although Michael Flynn’s men responded well after the break, a penalty from Connor Mahoney and a late third from substitute Tom Bradshaw saw the Lions ease through to round four.

Mark O’Brien replaced Ryan Inniss in the heart of the defence after recovering from concussion and FA Cup king Padraig Amond was recalled in place of Danny McNamara.

With McNamara unable to play against his parent club, Scot Bennett filled in at right-back, with Amond flanked by George Nurse and Tristan Abrahams in support of Jamille Matt up front.

The hosts made seven changes from their New Year’s Day win over Luton Town, with only goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski, defenders Jake Cooper and Alex Pearce and striker Smith retaining their places.

But it took them only seven minutes to open the scoring as Nurse’s attempted clearance from a corner fell to Smith at the far post and he reacted quicker than O’Brien to steer the ball past former Millwall man Tom King in the County goal.

That calmed the nerves in the home team and they soon took control of the game and showed their Championship quality.

Winger Mahoney was the main man and he could have killed off the tie before the break.

The former Blackburn Rovers man caused all sorts of problems on the right flank and he almost doubled his side’s advantage in the 17th minute when he beat two men but lost control as he attempted to take the ball around King in the box.

He then thought he should have won a penalty but referee Tony Harrington waved play on and King did well to keep out a shot from Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.

And Mahoney was denied a certain goal just after the half-hour mark when his shot was deflected wide by Amond.

County were second best in the first half and only really threatened from set-pieces with Joss Labadie heading one effort straight at Bartosz Bialkowski and blasting another shot over.

Ryan Haynes also tried his luck from distance before the break but his shot was comfortably saved by Bialkowski.

But County knew that, as long as it remained 1-0, they were still in the tie and they started the second half with a much more positive approach.

South Wales Argus:

Matt and then Amond both had chances to level in the 53rd minute as the former was denied by Bialkowski and the latter uncharacteristically stabbed wide with the goal at his mercy and his cup scoring record on the line.

That got the 877 away fans out of their seats and sparked Millwall manager Gary Rowett into a change with Wales international Bradshaw replacing Matt Smith up front.

And it was very much against the run of play when Rowett’s men won a penalty as O’Brien was adjudged to have fouled Bodvarsson in the box.

Mahoney confidently sent King the wrong way from the spot for a goal that his performance deserved, but which was harsh on the resurgent visitors. And Bradshaw added an extra gloss to the scoreline as he chipped over King at the near post to settle the contest eight minutes from the end.

County: King; Bennett, O’Brien, Demetriou, Haynes (Whitely, 74); Sheehan, Labadie (Dolan, 80); Abrahams (Collins, 79), Amond, Nurse; Matt

Subs not used: Townsend, Inniss, Jefferies, Poleon

Referee: Tony Harrington

Attendance: 6,009 (877 County)

Argus star man: Labadie