Giancarlo Giancovich made his Newport home debut. Picture by Peter Boam.
FOOTBALLNewport 0, Winchester City 3
LEADERS Winchester City showed no mercy against 16th-placed Newport, taking an early lead and then preventing the hosts from carving out any decent scoring opportunities.
In front of a crowd of 160, Newport had a good early chance, but Tom McInnes scuffed his shot from 12 yards, and Winchester’s Rory Anderson gathered with ease.
Former Brading players Kyle Levrier and Giancarlo Giancovich teamed up for the next chance, Levrier striking the post and Giancovich almost netting from the rebound.
But Winchester took the lead when Newport’s defence failed to clear the ball and Chris Mason drove it home.
The visitors began to build the pressure on Newport’s goal and the hosts were dealt a blow when Gary Streeter hurt his hand while trying to retrieve the ball.
In the second half, Levrier had another early chance which shot over, but Winchester increased their tally in the 56th minute through Danny King.
Newport’s substitute goalkeeper Cameron Farley was called into action early and, although he saved once from Jamie White’s effort, he was unable to stop White’s second effort from a corner.
Any hopes of a late rally by the Port were extinguished with seven minutes left when Steve Russell was sent off for a second bookable offence, and Winchester played out the remaining time.
Newport: Streeter, McDonough, Stay, Russell, Ovnik, Gregory, Powell, Giancovich, McInnes, Levrier, Oatley. Subs: Farley, Augustus, McKie