Forest Green Rovers 2, Newport County 0
Newport County slipped to defeat in their opening Checkatrade Trophy group match.
Hosts Forest Green netted a goal in each half with Dan Wishart and Luke James the scorers.
Both of Newport’s remaining trophy fixtures are at home and they still have a genuine chance of finishing in the top two and qualifying for the knockout stages.
County manager Michael Flynn made eight changes to his starting line-up for their 4-1 League Two win against Chesterfield last Saturday.
Ben White, David Pipe and Robbie Willmott were the three players to keep their places, while Lamar Reynolds and Shawn McCoulsky surprisingly failed to make the squad.
Wishart fired Rovers ahead when he turned Pipe on the left after 21 minutes and created an outstanding chance for himself. His shot from the edge of the penalty area gave goalkeeper James Bittner no chance.
Newport went close when Joe Quigley headed wide from Sean Rigg’s corner two minutes after Forest Green’s goal, but the home team had the edge.
Christian Doidge, a Newport-born former Barry Town and Carmarthen striker, went close with a headed chance.
The second goal came after 86 minutes when James struck a half volley into goal.
Flynn and his players will now put the Checkatrade trophy out of their minds and focus on a crunch top of League Two clash with Exeter City away on Saturday.
Exeter are top, while County are second.
Their two remaining Trophy group fixtures are at Rodney Parade in October and November.
Forest Green Rovers: Russell, Bennett, Laird, Traore (Monthe 67), Noble, Doidge (Mullins 77), Cooper (Brown 77), Wishart, Iacovitti, Roberts, James. Subs used: B Collins, Simpson, Evans, Stevens.
Newport County: Bittner, Butler, White, Bennett, Pipe (Barnum-Bobb 46), Owen-Evans, Tozer (Amond 71), Rigg, Jahraldo, Quigley, Willmott (Cole 46).
Subs not used: Day, Foulston, Nouble, Dolan.
Checkatrade Trophy Group Stage:
Sixteen groups of four teams.
All clubs will play each other once, either home or away.
Three points for a win, one for a draw.
If a game is drawn after 90 minutes a penalty shootout will be held with the winning team earning an additional point.
The top two teams will progress to the Knockout Stage.
Group E results so far: Cheltenham Town 1, Swansea City (u-21) 2; Forest Green Rovers 2, Newport County 0.
Remaining fixtures:
October 3: Cheltenham Town v Forest Green Rovers
October 10: Newport County v Swansea City (u-21)
October 31: Forest Green Rovers v Swansea City (u-21)
November 7: Newport County v Cheltenham Town
