Magician Potter is too good for Exiles

MANSFIELD TOWN ......... 5 NEWPORT COUNTY ........ 0

NEWPORT COUNTY were sent crashing to a third straight defeat in League Two on what was a night to forget at Mansfield.

Mike Flynn’s Exiles quite simply weren’t at the races as they were taken apart by the Stags who were 4-0 up after 34 minutes to leave County – and the 57 brave souls who made the trip – well and truly shell-shocked.

Alfie Potter grabbed a hat-trick for Mansfield, with Danny Rose and Alex MacDonald also netting.

With their game against Forest Green on Saturday postponed, Flynn made one change from the side that started at Wembley against Spurs last Wednesday, with Matt Dolan coming back into midfield in place of Ben Tozer.

But the warning signs were there early on as the Stags looked dangerous right from the off.

Kane Hemmings almost put the hosts in front after five minutes when a flick on from Krystian Pearce fell to him inside the box, but his low effort was kept out by the legs of keeper Joe Day.

It was all one-way traffic and was no surprise when Mansfield took the lead a minute later, with skipper Pearce the architect, as he forced his way into the box before squaring it to the back post for Rose to poke home from close range.

With County still half-asleep, Mansfield then doubled that advantage three minutes later with CJ Hamilton producing a burst of speed that took him past three defenders to the byline, before pulling the ball back for Potter who guided it into the corner from 12 yards.

It got worse for the visitors who found themselves 3-0 down after 28 minutes.

The impressive Hamilton managed to dispossess Ben White and square the ball to Rose who dinked the ball on to the bar, with Potter on hand to slam home his second of the night.

And, unbelievably, three became four six minutes later when, following a Potter corner, the ball found its way to MacDonald, who drilled home a shot through a melee of bodies from 12 yards.

Flynn made a double change at the break, throwing on Marlon Jackson and Mark O’Brien in place of Frank Nouble and Dolan.

It was always going to be a damage-limitation exercise in the second half, but chances kept on coming for Mansfield.

Day made saves from Rose and Adam King, Pearce hit the woodwork, while Hemmings missed a golden opportunity.

Potter completed his hat-trick on 61 minutes after Hamilton’s ball through, with the shot taking a deflection on the way in.