Newport County made it back-to-back wins with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over Accrington Stanley at Rodney Parade.
Shane McLoughlin’s deflected effort gave the Exiles an early lead before Shaun Whalley equalised just before half-time.
Courtney Baker-Richardson's pin-point penalty retained Newport’s lead shortly before Aaron Wildig rounded off a fine afternoon in NP19.
Head coach Nelson Jardim made just one change to his starting XI from last Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Doncaster Rovers. Bryn Morris, making his first start of the season, replaced the injured Kai Whitmore.
Meanwhile, Oliver Greaves returned to the Exiles’ bench along with new signing Kieron Evans following his arrival from Cardiff City.
Keen to build on their home opening win last weekend, the Exiles began the first half comfortable in possession as they controlled the start of proceedings and were able to prevent conceding any chances within the first 10 minutes.
Calm and composed in possession, the Exiles opened the score early on as Anthony Glennon’s floated cross found Mcloughlin, whose deflected effort was put into the bottom left corner of Michael Kelly’s goal.
Immediately after the opener, Accrington Stanley responded well with a chance of their own. Jimmy Knowles’ close-range effort was brilliantly blocked by Glennon who sent the ball over the crossbar.
Continuing to create chances, Bobby Kamwa’s tricky feet allowed him to make his way to the edge of the box where he beat his marker but the effort from a tight angle was rifled off the crossbar.
At the other end, the Reds scored the equaliser as Donald Love’s lofted through ball found the on-running Whalley who beat Ciaran Brennan for pace and smashed it home.
Just before the break, Tyler Walton took the ball around Nick Townsend but was unable to convert the chance as his effort collided with the far side of the post and the two sides ended the first half equal.
Half Time
It was the exiles who made a dream start to the second half, Kamwa used some fantastic skill to get past his marker who brought the pacey winger down in the box to win a penalty that was put away by Baker-Richardson with a composed finish to make it 2-1.
Just three minutes later, Accrington Stanley carved out a chance of their own as a whipped corner from the left-hand side was perfectly placed onto the head of Farrend Rawson but the centre half dragged the header narrowly just past the post.
Newport continued their perfect start to the second half as Cameron Antwi sent in a cross from deep which was poorly dealt with by the Reds’ defence and Wildig capitalised on the mistake, volleying the ball into the far corner of Kelly’s net to get the Exiles their third goal of the match.
Continuing to apply pressure, a beautifully weighted ball from Cameron Evans left the Reds’ defence flat-footed as he sent through the on-running Antwi who attempted to take it past the rushing Kelly but the ball was taken from the midfielder’s feet.
With just six minutes remaining, Accrington Stanley forced Townsend back into action with a remarkable save from a close-ranged volley from Whalley.
The Exiles saw out the remainder of the second half comfortably as they maintained control of possession throughout the match.
Full Time
The Exiles return to League Two action next Weekend when they make a trip to Morecambe (3pm).
Attendance: 4,437 (86 away)
Newport County: Townsend, McLoughlin, Baker, Clarke, Brennan, Glennon, Wildig (C) (K.Evans 88’), Morris (C.Evans 60’), Antwi, Kamwa (Rai 81’), Baker-Richardson (Jephcott 88’)
Substitutes: Carney, Jameson, Greaves
Accrington Stanley: Kelly, Love, Conneely (C) (Coyle 88’), Awe, Rawson, Walton(B.Woods 88’), Whalley, Quirk, Mooney, O'Brien (Khumbeni 45’), Knowles (J.Woods 74’)
Substitutes: Rogerson, Martin, Henderson