FOOTBALL Reading Town 1, Newport 4
NEWPORT moved into the next round of the FA Cup with a superb team performance at Newbury’s Faraday Road ground.
From the kick off, Newport pushed forward with Sam Hart making excellent runs on the left flank delivering precision crosses for Smeeton, Seabrook, Powell and Wright to have efforts on the Reading goal.
However, the first half was not all one-way traffic as Gary Streeter in the Newport goal had to make four good saves.
The second half started with a scare for the visitors when within two minutes of the start, Reading found themselves in front of goal but their point-blank effort was well saved by Streeter.
A minute, later Newport took the lead when Wayne NEWNHAM put a long cross into the penalty area, with Reading keeper Rackley, who watched the ball go over his head into the net.
Newport continued to push forward and were rewarded with a second goal on 56 minutes when Charlie SMEETON swept the ball home from ten yards, following good work by the Newport front line.
The game was effectively sealed on 64 minutes when a cross from Hart was headed in by Scott SAMPSON. Newport were on a real roll, tearing into the Reading defence with Hart and Seabrook having efforts saved.
Their fourth goal came on 83 minutes, when Freddie Knowles, on for Sam Hart crossed for NEWNHAM to head home at the far post.
Reading claimed a consolation goal with a minute left, scoring from close range.
Newport take on Southern League first division side Bishops Cleeve, from Cheltenham, on September 11 in the next round.
Newport: Streeter, Gregory, Shepherd, Sampson, Ovnik, Newnham, Powell, Seabrook, Wright, Smeeton, Hart. Subs: McInnes, McDonahue, Simpkins, Scovell, Augustus, Knowles.
Fareham Town 0, Newport 1
Newport moved up to sixth in the Sydenhams Wessex League, Premier Division, level on points with Brading Town, after a good win at previously unbeaten Fareham.
In a match which the Island side could have won by a far higher margin, according to the club’s Twitter correspondent, Sam HART scored the only goal in the first half to seal victory.