Newport County were beaten 3-2 by Carlisle United on Saturday afternoon at Brunton Park.
Despite taking a two-goal lead through a composed finish from Kieron Evans and a sensational strike from Bobby Kamwa, Newport County were unable to hold on, as Carlisle United fought back with a brace from Georgie Kelly and a late winner from Aaron Hayden.
Head coach Nelson Jardim made three changes to the side that had drawn with Bromley in the previous match, as Kieron Evans, Shane McLoughlin, and David Ajiboye came into the starting XI.
The hosts began the match strongly, with Kadeem Harris who tested the County defence early on. From a Carlisle corner, Harris fired a shot toward goal, but Newport goalkeeper Nick Townsend made a comfortable save. A few moments later, Harris had another chance, cutting onto his right foot inside the box before he curled an effort just over the bar.
Newport responded quickly, and in the 26th minute, they took the lead. A sweeping move from the defence saw Kieron Evans receive the ball in the box, where he took a touch before he calmly finished into the bottom right corner.
Just two minutes later, the Exiles doubled their lead in spectacular fashion. Kamwa received the ball just outside the box and, with his man backing off, took a touch before he unleashed a stunning strike into the top right corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Carlisle pulled one back in the 34th minute. Stephen Wearne played a well timed pass through to Georgie Kelly, who finished with precision into the bottom right corner.
In the 37th minute, Harris again tested Townsend from distance, but his shot didn’t trouble the County keeper. A minute before halftime, Kamwa created space for himself on the left wing, cutting inside past his man, but his effort went well wide of the target.
Half-time
The second half started with Carlisle looking to equalise, and they almost did in the 47th minute when Josh Vela latched onto a knockdown from Kelly and volleyed goalward, but Townsend made a fine save.
Carlisle did level the score on the hour mark. A scrappy melee in the box saw the ball fall to Georgie Kelly, who tapped in from close range for his second goal of the game.
With just over 20 minutes left, the hosts had a great opportunity to take the lead. The ball ricocheted around the box and eventually fell into the path of Matthew Dennis, but he was unable to get a touch on it.
Kamwa then came close to restoring Newport’s lead. The winger cut inside into the box and curled a shot toward the right-hand corner, but Carlisle goalkeeper Gabriel Breeze made a superb save. The ball then fell to Anthony Glennon, whose rising shot was again brilliantly saved by Breeze.
In the 84th minute, Carlisle took the lead for the first time. Aaron Hayden poked the ball home from close range in the six-yard box after Joe Hugill’s free-kick struck the bottom left post. The ball was then redirected into the box, and after a scramble, Hayden was in the right place at the right time to score.
County nearly responded immediately, with Glennon powering a shot from distance, but Breeze again made the save, pushing the ball behind for a corner.
Despite playing over five minutes of injury time, Newport County were unable to find an equaliser, and they left Brunton Park empty-handed.
Full time
Newport County: Townsend, Thomas, C.Evans, Baker, Clarke(C), Glennon, Antwi, McLoughlin, K.Evans (Whitmore 71’), Ajiboye (Martin 66’), Kamwa.
Substitutes: Webb, Brennan, Spellman, Patten, Bony
Carlisle: Breeze, Ellis, Thomas, Hayden, Davies (McArthur 24’), Vela (Dennis 54'), Whelan, Fusire (Bevan 80’), Harris, Wearne (Hugill 80'), Kelly.
Substitutes: Lewis, Barclay, Guy.