County’s cruise to victory in cup stroll
CAMBRIDGE UTD ............ 1 NEWPORT CO ................... 4
NEWPORT County cruised into the second round of the Carabao Cup after a comfortable victory over Sky Bet League Two rivals Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium.
Mike Flynn, who said he would make a few changes, handed debuts to goalkeeper Nick Townsend and midfielder Tyreeq Bakinson and 23-year-old Townsend had to be alert early on to clear the danger after the ball fell kindly for Cambridge attacker Ade Azeez in the box.
But that proved to be a rare moment of danger for County. Jamille Matt and Fraser Franks both showed Newport’s attacking threat with half-chances before Padraig Amond put the Exiles ahead as he chased a long ball and fired an effort past Dimitar Mitov.
Flynn had asked his players to be more ruthless in the final third and Amond obliged with a quick-fire second, capitalising on a defensive error to double the Exiles’ advantage.
The Irishman almost celebrated his hat-trick moments later but his fizzing volley was expertly tipped around the post by the outstretched hand of Mitov.
Bakinson looked to mark his debut with a wonder goal, but his long-range effort flew the wrong side of the post as the visitors looked to kill off the game before the break.
Half-time came at the wrong time for the visitors, but Flynn’s men continued where they left off early in the second half at Matt headed in Matty Dolan’s perfect free kick to bolster County’s lead.
Josh Sheehan forced Mitov into a smart save before the hosts almost pulled themselves back in the game.
Substitute Barry Corr found a pocket of space, but couldn’t find the target with a header from a free kick, while Emmanuel Osadebe, who had a short loan at County last season, powered a header over the bar.
But Antoine Semenyo rounded off the win as held off the challenge of Brad Halliday to calmly slot past Mitov to open his County account. Azeez had the last word with a late penalty to ruin Townsend’s clean sheet.
Cambridge United:
D Mitov; B Halliday, H Darling, G Taft, J Carroll; L O’Neil, G Deegan (B Corr 58), G Maris; R Lambe (D Amoo 58), E Osadebe (T Knowles 81), A Azeez. Subs: K Pilkington, L John, S Squire, L Davies.
Newport County:
N Townsend; T Forbes, M Demetriou, F Franks, S Bennett, D Butler; M Dolan (C Cooper 78), J Sheehan (K MarshBrown 68), T Bakinson; P Amond, J Matt (A Semenyo 68). Subs: J Day, J Foulston, L Collins, M Harris.
Andy Davies.
Referee: