Newport County beaten 2-0 by Bristol City in friendly

A year ago, the Exiles were given an eight-goal thumping at the Robins’ training base but this time there were just two strikes from Nahki Wells, who scored four in 2023, and Sinclair Armstrong.

There was certainly more encouragement for County against strong opposition than from the defeat to Cymru Premier Barry Town United last weekend.

Plenty will have been learnt from a positive short trip over the bridge.

It was 0-0 at the break after County grew into the game from a wobbly start in the face of the Bristol press; they were put under stress by quality opposition, which was the whole point of the short trip.

The starters left the field on the hour on level terms but the Championship side hit the front on 68 minutes when Nahki Wells’ movement was too good and he drilled in a finish.

Luke Jephcott wasted a golden chance to level with eight minutes to go and the Robins clinched their success at the death when summer signing Sinclair Armstrong finished from close range.

CLASH: Courtney Baker-Richardson battles for the ball up front for County at Bristol City (Image: NICNACNOOPIXS)

County featured striker Courtney Baker-Richardson after he sat out the games on plastic pitches against Pontypridd and Barry Town United.

Those still not being risked were defenders James Clarke and Josh Seberry, midfielder Bryn Morris and forward Will Evans.

Last season’s top scorer is still yet to feature this summer and has Saturday’s trip to Kidderminster and the final tune-up at Hereford to come before the Cheltenham opener.

The Robins, who had a Tuesday evening friendly at Aldershot also in the diary, named a side of mixed experience.

Wells, who scored four times a year ago, was joined up front by summer signing Sinclair Armstrong while Newport youngster Omar Taylor-Clarke was on the bench.

County had a lucky escape in the third minute when Wells was denied in a one-on-one by Nick Townsend and then central defenders Kyle Jameson and Ciaran Brennan, at the back after previously deployed as a shielding midfielder, cleared off the line from Amstrong.

The Exiles created an opening in the ninth minute when Nathan Wood found Michael Spellman in acres of space down the left but the summer signing’s first touch was poor and the ball ran through to the ‘keeper.

Barry levelled at Jenner Park from a free-kick that was whipped into the box and that was once again an issue in the 15th minute with Rob Atkinson climbing high and beating Townsend, only for Jameson to once again be the saviour with an acrobatic clearance under the bar.

City were putting serious pressure on Townsend with the ball at his feet – this will be a feature for the established ‘keeper and novice arrival Jacob Carney in this new style – and it was one-way traffic.

That was released for a while when Baker-Richardson used his experience and strength to get his side up the pitch, and the visitors looked more comfortable as the break approached.

Kai Whitmore sparked a feisty response from Wells for a strong challenge – “nothing wrong with that, lad, won the ball” the response from County captain Wildig – and it was goalless at half-time.

Wells had a big chance to open the scoring two minutes after the restart but fired over when the ball fell kindly on the edge of the area. He should have hit the target.

Townsend made a solid stop from a Max Bird shot on the edge of the area in the 54th minute then Armstrong drove wide with Jameson in close pursuit after a run down the right channel.

Michael Spellman hobbled off after 56 minutes to be replaced by Kiban Rai before seven other changes on the hour.

Brennan stayed on in midfield with Whitmore while Glennon was pushed to left forward, with trialist Cameron Evans given a chance down that wing after the former Swansea academy full-back had previous featured down the right.

The Robins put the pressure on while the new boys got up to speed and there was another lucky escape when Whitemore’s poor pass back to ‘keeper Carney was under hit but Taylor Gardner-Hickman failed to hit the target from inside the area.

However, the opener did come when Wells’ movement was too clever for teenage defender Nelson Sanca and the striker fired in from inside the area down the right.

County had chances for a response with Kiban Rai worked in down the right but the hosts held firm.

There was some confusion when referee Rueben Ricardo initially looked set to prevent the Exiles bringing Shane McLoughlin and Wildig back on to share the load with Brennan and Whitmore, but common sense prevailed.

A nice move saw Luke Jephcott force Robins stopper Stefan Bajic into a routine save after 78 minutes as the Exiles continued to have joy down their right.

It was down that flank that the equaliser should have come with eight to go, trialist Hamzad Kargbo beating the offside trap and squaring for Jephcott only for the striker to somehow drag his shot wide.

That proved to be costly when the hosts got in down the left and Armstrong made no mistake from the cross.

Bristol City scorers: Wells, Armstrong.

County: Townsend, McLoughlin, Glennon, Jameson, Brennan, Whitmore, Antwi, Wildig (captain), Wood, Baker-Richardson, Spellman.

Substitutes: Carney, Thomas, Baker, Jephcott, Rai, Sanca, Greaves, C Evans (trialist), Kargbo (trialist).

Referee: Rueben Ricardo.