Newport County AFC put in a perfect team performance as they continued their 2019/20 pre-season preparations with a comfortable 8-1 victory at Weston-Super-Mare.
In the most encouraging sign so far ahead of the new season, Padraig Amond go two alongside goals for Joss Labadie, Kyle Howkins, Corey Whitely, Keanu Marsh-Brown, Josh Sheehan and Momodou Touray.
Sam Hendy got one for Weston to make it 7-1 but the evening belonged to the Exiles as they edged closer to the start of the League Two season with a more than pleasing performance and scoreline.
Manager Michael Flynn decided to go with a strong side from the off at the Optima Stadium as one trialist helped compose a starting team which otherwise included first team players.
Tom King kept up his record of starting in every pre-season fixture, playing behind a back four of George Nurse, Kyle Howkins, Mickey Demetriou and Robbie Willmott.
Captain Joss Labadie featured in the midfield alongside Matty Dolan and the trialist, while Corey Whitley again provided support for the front two of Padraig Amond and Jamille Matt.
The Exiles were ruthless from start to finish and completely outplayed their hosts including producing a first half barrage of opportunities in a scintillating performance up until the half time whistle.
Niall Maher limited the scorinng as County just kept on attacking the Seagulls, with Amond forcing a reflex save inside two minutes plus Willmott and Dolan both being denied inside the opening five.
It was only a matter of time until the Exiles finally took the lead and it came on 18 minutes as Labadie opened his account for pre-season following a goalmouth scramble and a half volley through a host of bodies.
County found a further two goals before the break as they continued the siege mentality of one-way traffic in Somerset and Amond got his first of the evening on 37 minutes with a fine header into the top corner following a delicious cross from George Nurse.
It was three two minutes before the break as County again showed their aerial presence – Kyle Howkins getting his first County goal with a bullet header from a Matty Dolan corner.
It seemed impossible that County could find another gear in the second half, but the intensity was just as high – if not higher – and they scored more goals after the break than in the first half.
You felt sorry for Maher who continued to make some really smart saves to deny Matt, Whitely and Willmott, but County were just a different animal again and continued the scoring spree.
Amond got his second just before the hour with a neat tap-in following another superb Nurse cross, while it was five on 70 minutes thanks to a stunning 25-yard deflected strike from Whitely.
It was nothing more than the summer signing deserved for a wonderful display – akin to the one at Shrewsbury on Wednesday – and his pace and trickery terrified the Seagulls all evening.
After his Gold Cup exploits, Keanu Marsh-Brown made a welcome return to pre-season matches and he capped off a wonderful team move by completing a one-two with Momodou Touray and calmly slotting past Maher.
It was extremely encouraging to see the Exiles passing it round with such ease and poise and they reached seventh heaven with fifteen minutes to go when Sheehan tapped home following more sublime play.
Weston did show glimpses of what they might bring to the 2019/20 season and Sam Hendy gave the home supporters something to cheer about when he opened up his body and calmly side footed a cross into the bottom corner on 79 minutes.
But that wasn’t the last of the action as Touray scored his first goal for the senior side when tapping home into the centre of the goal following further intricate play.
A stunning display from the Exiles and a more than just reward for the army of supporters who travelled to Somerset.
Newport County AFC: Tom King, George Nurse (Marvel Ekpiteta 63’), Mickey Demetriou (Mark O’Brien 71’), Kyle Howkins, Robbie Willmott (Trialist 2 63’), Joss Labadie (C) (Scot Bennett 55’), Matty Dolan (Josh Sheehan 45’), Trialist 1 (Lazar Stojsavljevic 63’), Corey Whitely (Trialist 3 71’), Jamille Matt (Keanu Marsh-Brown 71’), Padraig Amond (Momodou Touray 71’)
Weston Super Mare FC: Niall Maher, Aaron Parsons, Nuno Felix, Scott Laird, Ben Cook, Greg Tindle, Tom Llewelyn, Sam Hendy, Nick McCootie, Ben Whitehead, Ryan Jones
Subs: Jay Malshanskyj, Owen Howe, Isaac Pearce, Jack Goodall, Alex Bryne, Charlie Madden