Newport County’s EFL Trophy campaign got off to a successful start with a 2-0 win away at League One Cheltenham Town.
Graham Coughlan named a strong side for our first EFL Trophy game of the season. Kiban Rai, Lewis Payne, Jonny Maxted, and Nathan Wood were all brought into the team, replacing Townsend, Morris, Waite, and Bondswell.
The hosts also named a strong side, making five changes from their 1-1 draw with Derby County at the weekend.
After an evenly split opening period, Cheltenham provided Maxted with his first test of the evening in the 18th minute, with the keeper comfortably saving a low shot from outside the box by Dan Adshead. The hosts would carve out another chance a minute later, with Adshead turning provider for Josh Williams, who drove his shot high over the bar.
Maxted was called into action again a minute later, with a clever flick from Tom Bradbury being turned goalwards by Ellis Chapman, forcing the keeper to make the save.
The Robins were made to pay for their missed opportunities in the 26th minute. Ryan Delaney flicked a ball into the box from Bennett into the path of the oncoming Nathan Wood, who smashed the ball home for his first professional goal.
This energised the rest of the team and swung the game's momentum, with a string of half-chances coming our way. Kiban Rai and Aaron Wildig both saw potentially dangerous efforts blocked by the Cheltenham defence, who found themselves under prolonged periods of pressure.
This pressure saw them nearly gift us a second goal in first-half stoppage time. Kiban Rai pounced on a stray pass from Liam Smith and played through Will Evans, but the striker couldn’t take the opportunity, dragging his effort wide of the target.
Half-time
Cheltenham were not wasting time in the second half, creating their best chance of the game just two minutes after the whistle. A long ball saw Aidan Keena run through, with the striker rounding an advancing Maxted. Fortunately, an expertly timed tackle from Josh Seberry denied him the equaliser.
The Robins went close again just a few minutes later. Some nice play ended with Will Ferry laying Keena off in the box, with the striker driving a powerful shot at Maxted from close range, with the keeper holding his nerve and putting it out for a corner.
Will Evans would not be so wasteful when presented with a chance. Omar Bogle controlled the ball on the edge of the area before passing it across to his strike partner. Evans steadied himself before firing a vicious shot from outside the box past a helpless Max Harris in the Cheltenham goal, bagging his 11th of the campaign.
Cheltenham went in search of a response, with Tom Bradbury heading home in the 62nd minute, only to have his goal ruled out for offside.
Coughlan went to his bench in the 70th minute, bringing on James Waite and Matty Bondswell, before giving Matt Baker his first appearance of the season in the 78th minute.
The Exiles dominated large portions of the remaining 20 minutes, with Cheltenham unable to muster any real chances. An effort from Curtis Thompson from the edge of the box, which sailed high over the bar in the 90th minute, was their best opportunity.
The 178 travelling County fans will make the short trip back across the bridge with smiles on their faces and three points on the board. Next up, we visit Swindon Town this coming Saturday.
Full-time
Newport County: Maxted, Payne, Delaney, Evans (Waite 70’), Bogle (Bondswell 70’), Seberry, Bennett (Baker 78’), Rai, McLoughlin, Wood, Wildig (Morris 45’) Subs: Townsend, Morris, Waite, Baker, Bondswell, C Evans
Cheltenham Town: Harris, Williams, Bradbury, Keena (Street 72’), Thompson, Ferry (Oyalinka 68’), Adshead (Sercombe 60’), Chapman (Goodwin 60’), Smith, Williams, Malcolm Subs: Freestone, Sercombe, Goodwin, Street, Olayinka, D’Auria-Henry, Wilcox
Attendance: 1,175 (178 away)