Matt sets up winner for Newport

Jamaican striker Jamille Matt provided the assist to help set up Newport County’s winner in their 1-0 English Football League Trophy quarter-final victory over Leicester City Under-21s at Rodney Parade, and leave the Welsh outfit 90 minutes away from a Wembley Stadium final.

Scot Bennett found himself in an advanced position to set his side on the road to victory with the decisive goal in the 13th minute on Tuesday night.

The young Leicester defence failed to deal with a long throw from Mickey Demetriou and after Matt nodded the ball down, Bennett lashed it home from around 15 yards for his first goal of the season.

MISSED MANY CHANCES

The win earned Newport a handy £70,000 (US$91,210) in prize money and TV fees.

Manager Michael Flynn praised the young Leicester side for their effort, but he again castigated his own players for spurning a number of good chances.

“We can’t keep missing chances. I’ve told them again and I’m getting sick and tired of saying it, but I’m saying it again. We’ve got to start taking our chances.

“But the important thing was to get through and I’m delighted with that.”

Matt, 30, scored 20 goals last season, but has struggled this term and has netted only six times. Newport currently lie in mid-table in the league having narrowly missed out on promotion last season.

Newport will now host League Two rivals Salford City in a one-off trophy semi-final on February 19.

The winners of that tie will take on either Exeter City or Portsmouth in the final at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday, April 5.