Newport County were defeated 3-0 by automatic-promotion hopefuls Doncaster Rovers on Saturday afternoon at Eco-Power Stadium.
The Exiles saw their four game unbeaten run against the Rovers come to the end after a brace from Robert Street and a great half volley from Luke Molyneux meant all three points went to the South Yorkshire side.
Head coach Nelson Jardim made two change to the side that faced Cheltenham Town last time out, as David Ajiboye and Kyle Jameson replaced Anthony Glennon and the suspended Courtney Baker-Richardson.
The game began in a fast tempo with both sides looking to start on the front foot. It was Kyle Jameson who got the first proper chance of the game as the defender rose highest from a corner to head goal ward to cause chaos for Rovers but the danger was cleared.
Just moments later, Jordan Gibson did well to find room to shoot and forced Nick Townsend into a save as he pushed behind for a corner. The subsequent corner produced another chance as Jay McGrath’s shot was met from a low dive by Townsend who denied the defender.
Rovers winger, Molyneux used his pace well on the right wing to drive past a few County defenders before dragging a ball back to the penalty spot and to Street. Fortunately, Matt Baker was there to block the ball behind to prevent a dangerous strike.
Bobby Kamwa did brilliantly to skip past his Jamie Sterry before cutting the ball back on the byline that was pushed away by the legs of Teddy Sharman-Lowe. The ball came to Shane McLoughlin on the edge of the box as the midfielder took sight of goal but his effort wasn’t enough to trouble Sharman-Lowe who held his effort.
Doncaster Rovers opened the scoring on the 34th minute as Street tapped home from close range. A well delivered corner found McGrath whose headed effort was cleared off the line from Jameson before street capitalised on the loose ball.
County looked to respond as Joe Thomas was played in down the right side of the box by Kamwa but his shot from an acute angle was saved well by Sharman-Lowe.
Half time
The second half got off to the worst possible start for the Exiles with Street doubling his and the Rovers tally just twenty seconds after the restart. A thunderous volley from Molyneux, that collided with the cross bar, fell to Street whose first effort was excellently saved by Townsend, but the ball fell back to the striker who back-heeled in from close range.
Doncaster continued on the front foot as Molyneux drove toward the County back line and his deflected shot was held well by Townsend.
There was a golden chance for Gibson to add a third for Doncaster as Sterry dragged a ball from the byline to the middle of the box but Gibson’s shot was well wide of the mark.
After weathering multiple Rovers attacks, County tried to hit back as Kamwa progressed down the left, before laying the ball back to Martin. He shifted it across to Ajiboye who tried to curl an effort past Sharman-Lowe but was just wide.
Molyneux once again was the creator for Doncaster as the winger played an incisive pass across the box to Gibson but once again the Exiles were let off by the number eleven who fired against the post.
Exiles defender Cameron Evans picked out the run of Whitmore in behind but Sharman-Lowe was quickest to the ball ahead of the on-running midfielder.
In the 78th minute, Molyneux added a third with a superb half volley from the edge of the box and into the bottom right corner.
Full Time
Newport County return to Sky Bet League Two action on Tuesday evening as they host Gillingham at Rodney Parade (7:45pm)
Newport County: Townsend, Thomas, C.Evans (Glennon 70’), Baker, Clarke (C) (Mawene 57’), Jameson, Antwi, McLoughlin, Kamwa (Spellman 70’), Ajiboye, Martin (Whitmore 57’).
Substitutes: Webb, Warner, Bony.
Doncaster Rovers: Sharman-Lowe, Sterry, Olowu, Maxwell, McGrath, Bailey (C) (Crew 82’), Broadbent, Molyneux (Ennis 82’), Clifton (Sbarra 74’), Gibson (Ironside 88’), Street (Sharp 82’).
Substitutes: Lawlor, Anderson.
Attendance: 8,007 (196 away)
