MATCH REPORT: Chippenham Town 1-2 Newport County – Tues 20th July 2021

The Bluebirds pre-season was again affected by Covid-19 and given the strength of the League two visitors, who started the match with nine of their first team squad

The Bluebirds pre-season was again affected by Covid-19 and given the strength of the League two visitors, who started the match with nine of their first team squad (with a further seven on the bench), the mix and match side put in a very credible performance.

The Exiles were the more dominant side in the opening half with Aaron Lewis failing with a twelfth minute heading chance and two minutes later Richie Willmott’s shot from distance was saved.

The Welsh side opened the scoring when a cross from the right was turned in from close range by a trialist.

Five minutes before the break Newport’s Lewis Collins cut inside and his curling effort went over the bar.

After the break Chippenham levelled when Dan Griffiths was fouled in the area and he converted the resultant penalty.

However, it didn’t take long for the League side to regain the lead when the ball was played forward and a trialist turned and fired home a left-footed shot into the top left-hand corner of the net.

The Bluebirds then saw a potential equaliser chalked off whilst sixteen yeasr old sub keeper Evan Ovendale brought off a superb save to ensure his side’s victory.

Newport: Joe Day, Trialist, Mickey Demitriou, Priestley Farquharson, Cameron Norman,Aaron Lewis, Ed Upson, Chris Missilou, Robbie Willmott, Trialist, Lewis Collins, subs: Padraig Amond, James Clarke, Ryan Haynes, Scot Bennett, Trialist, Courtney Baker-Richardson, Trialist, Matt Dolan, Evan Ovendale.

Attendance: 385