Sky Bet League Two side Newport County retained the Carl Lewis Memorial Trophy courtesy of a 4-2 victory in Evesham United`s opening pre-season friendly at the Jubilee Stadium.
Newport who finished 14th on their return to the Football League last season, paraded their strongest line-up and the full-timers proved too much for a determined Evesham side who gave a good account of themselves after just a couple of training sessions. Star striker Lance Smith continued where he left off last season scoring both United goals before being substituted at half-time and there were signs of a formidable partnership in the making with new signing Ashley Edenborough.
Lance Smith: Scored Brace
It took the impressive Smith just six minutes to find the back of the net, heading home Ben Evans` left wing corner past County keeper Lenny Pidgeley. Newport hit back with the speedy Shaun Jeffers forcing Robins debutant keeper Kevin Sawyer to make a couple of excellent saves and then Rene Howe headed wide of the target from Mark Byrne`s right wing delivery. Edenborough then went close for the hosts before Byrne levelled for the Welshmen on 32 minutes with a simple tap-in from Jeffers low cross. Christian Jolly missed a golden opportunity to edge Newport in front but pulled his shot wide when faced with only Sawyer to beat.
Howe then drove in past Sawyer following good approach play by Jolly to hand Newport a 2-1 lead on 40 minutes but Smith bagged his second goal of the game two minutes later giving Pidgeley no chance with an excellently struck free-kick after Evans had been impeded on the edge of the box. Wholesale changes at half-time by both sides made for a disjointed second-half and it was Newport who went on to score two more goals to finally runout 4-2 winners. First Yan Klukowski got on the scoresheet with a low drive and then with seven minutes to go, Chris Zebroski rounded things off sweeping the ball home beyond the diving Sawyer. Aaron Drake then prevented Aaron O`Connor from nothing a fifth for the Exiles in stoppage-time when he cleared off the line to deny the County substitute.
EVESHAM UNITED:
Sawyer, M.Jackson, Binns, Wilson, Sysum, Dovey, Evans, N.Jackson, Edenborough, Smith, Slack.
Subs: All Came On Sauntson, Wellon, Palmer, Watts, Wood, Robinson, Drake, Byliffe, Saunders and Goddard.
REFEREE: Mr N.Radford
ATTENDANCE: 161
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