County fall to defeat at the Lamex Stadium at the hands of Stevenage F.C.
The Exiles made two changes to the side that were defeat by Cambridge United at Rodney Parade last weekend, with Tommy O'Sullivan and John-Christophe Ayina returning to the starting line-up.An early corner by Mark Byrne dropped in front of John-Christophe Ayina, but the ball didn't fall kindly for the striker, who couldn't trap the ball to force 'keeper Jamie Jones into a save.
The hosts took the lead in the ninth minute when Tom Pett got across his man down the right-hand side and put a dangerous cross into the area that was headed home by Jake Mulraney from close-range.
On twenty minutes County had a free-kick in a dangerous position. Five players fancied their chances from the set-piece, but it was Tommy O'Sullivan who hit the free-kick straight into the wall.
The hosts were quick to hit County on the break, with goalscorer Jake Mulraney curling an effort narrowly past the post, that was almost touched home at the far by the stretching Aaron O'Connor.
Stevenage's lead was doubled when Aaron O'Connor broke free inside the area and hit a powerful effort that darted into the top corner past Joe Day. The former County striker didn't celebrate his goal in front of the travelling County fans, instead gesturing in an apologetic manner towards the Newport faithful.
During the half-time break striker, Scott Boden was introduced at the expense of Tommy O'Sullivn and the change spared the Exiles into life during the opening period of the second half.
Just three minutes after the break Lenell John-Lewis touched the ball down to Mark Byrne, who tried a to curl an effort inside the far post with the outside of his boot, but his effort bounced the wrong side of the post.
Scott Boden was involved in an attacking move when he threaded a pass into the path of Lenell John-Lewis, who touched the ball towards goal and fired an effort that lifted over the crossbar from a narrow angle.
On the hour mark a deep cross from John-Christophe Ayina was touched back across goal by Alex Rodman, but goalkeeper Jamie Jones was able to touch the ball out of the reach of the lurking Scott Boden.
The hosts were happy to sit back and allow County to continue to try and break through their resolute defence and a break through came in the 87th minute when a cross from the left by Medy Elito was powerfully dispatched by Alex Rodman to give the Exiles a route back into the game.
The fourth official signalled for six minutes of added time and Country threw Darren Jones and Andrew Hughes up front but were unable to find a late equalising goal.
FINAL SCORE: STEVENAGE F.C 2 - 1 NEWPORT COUNTY AFC
Newport County XI: Day, John-Lewis (67' Coulibaly), Jones, Elito, Hughes, Holmes, Byrne, Rodman, Davies (38' Donacien), O'Sullivan (45'Boden), Ayina
Newport County subs: Green, Partridge, Klukowski, Boden, Morgan, Donacien, Coulibaly.
Bookings: Holmes, Jones, Elito