NEWPORT CO...1 TRANMERE...2

WILL Evans’ 25th goal of the season was not enough to prevent a sixth successive defeat for Newport County, as Tranmere Rovers fought back to win at Rodney Parade.

Graham Coughlan’s men have two games left to end their wretched run, which has seen them fall from play-off contenders to mid-table mediocrity.

It may have been a meaningless contest, but it was a big day for Exiles defender Nelson Sanca.

The 17-year-old was handed his professional debut in the heart of the home defence due to a lengthy injury list at the back, which four other teenagers also named on the bench.

And Sanca looked right at home in the opening stages, winning the majority of his duels and confidently playing out from the back.

County were the better side early on and Bryn Morris almost opened the scoring after nine minutes with a shot from distance that fizzed off the turf and Luke McGee had to be alert to palm it to safety.

The Exiles were rewarded for their lively start when Harrison Bright, another academy graduate, swung in a perfect cross from the right for Evans to head powerfully past McGee and end his ninegame goalless streak.

There was almost a second for Evans soon afterwards as he pounced on a loose ball in the sixyard box and poked goalwards, but it was straight at McGee.

And that proved costly as moments later Tranmere’s Rob Apter was allowed far too much space and time to hit a low left-foot shot into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Harvey Saunders had two chances to put the visitors ahead, but twice shot straight at Nick Townsend.

While, at the other end, play was stopped when Harry Charsley’s piledriver hit the back of Luke Jephcott’s head.

County were then caught on the break as Apter raced onto a high ball over the top. Sanca showed good pace to catch him, but the winger fired through the teenager’s legs and past Townsend to make it 2-1 on 36 minutes.

Jephcott could have levelled before the break when a quick free-kick by Kyle Jameson released Seb Palmer-Houlden down the right and he crossed for his fellow striker, who fired over at the far post.

Both Jephcott and Palmer-Houlden made way after 20 minutes of the second half as Coughlan sent on Kiban Rai and Offrande Zanzala in search of a spark.

Rai certainly got the crowd on their feet with his direct running, and the 18-year-old could have equalised with 20 minutes to go.

But, after being teed up by captain Omar Bogle, his shot was blocked by Lee O’Connor.

And Matt Baker was then denied by the legs of McGee on another frustrating afternoon for Coughlan’s men.