Newport County continued their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Kidderminster Harriers at Aggborough Stadium.
Goals from Ashley Hemmings and player C were enough to hand the Reds victory on home soil.
It was the home side who made an assertive start to proceedings, calving out an opportunity after just five minutes. Luke Summerfields out-swinging corner found the head of Alex Penny, whose strong attempt forced a smart save from Jacob Carney.
Continuing their positive start, the Reds made the breakthrough in the match midway through the half. After the Exiles conceded a penalty, Hemmings made no mistake from the spot to fire Phil Brown’s side into the lead.
With 27 minutes on the clock, Carney was forced into action once again after Morgan-Smith broke through on the counter-attack. The forward intelligently intercepted a loose ball on the edge of the box, and the former Manchester United shot-stopper pulled off a magnificent save to deny a second goal.
Just before the break, the Exiles responded well with a number of chances of their own. First, Michael Spellman cut inside and flashed an effort wide, before Joe Thomas fired a header narrowly wide of the target.
Half Time
The second half began with Brown’s men on the front foot from the start. After creating numerous chances, the Reds doubled their lead in the 63rd minute via player C.
With the Exiles failing to clear their lines from an in-swinging corner, the player fired home a terrific strike to beat the diving Townsend.
Looking to respond to their set-back, the Exiles set about producing a comeback in the tie. They came close to doing that in the 72 minute, as Shane Mcoughlin won the ball high up the pitch before teeing up Greaves, who couldn't finish from an acute angle.
At the other end, Townsend had to make a crucial save to keep County in the game just minutes later. Morgan-Smith advanced forward and fired a header towards goal but the linesman’s flag denied him the opportunity.
In the dying embers, Trialist B had a golden chance to half the deficit when he squared the ball to Baker-Richardson but the former County man couldn’t trouble Christian Dibble.
Full Time
Newport County conclude their pre-season campaign with a trip to Hereford FC next Saturday (3pm).
Newport County Starting XI: Carney(Townsend 46’), Thomas(Trialist A), Baker(Jameson 67’), Clarke(Santa 80’), Glennon (C.Evans 67’), McLoughlin (Norris 80’), Wildig(Whitmore 67’), Spellman(Barton 80’), Greaves(Trialist B), Rai(Trialist C), Jephcott(Baker-Richardson 67’)
Kidderminster Harries Starting XI: Dibble, Penny, Richards, Downing, McNally, Summerfield, Morgan-Smith, Hemmings, Cadogan, Brown, Kouhyar
Substitutes: Palmer, Trialist C, Lambert, Thompson, Hewett, Trialist D, Maginness, Rubio, Hall.