The task was to secure a place in the First Round of the FA Trophy, so it was mission accomplished following our first ever encounter with the Royalists of Windsor & Eton.  The Stag Meadow ground is out of sight of the famous castle but it was starting to look just as unassailable for County who laboured hard before breeching the defences of the Southern League side.

Prince Philip is listed as Patron of the Berkshire club, but the state of the surroundings suggested that little of the royal resources had ever been invested into facilities probably  rarely frequented by any of his extended family.  An excellent match programme showed that there are people who care about their football club however, and they had extensively researched the history of the city of Newport.

County wore an unfamiliar white and black kit which made early identification of players an exercise for the travelling Amber Army who were easily in the majority in the grandstand and on the terraces.  After threatening to dominate in the opening few minutes, County did not get the goal which could have broken home hearts though Julian Alsop had chances with two headers, the first of which was tipped over by home keeper Daryl Dennehy.  Terry O'Connor provided some threat on the left of midfield for Windsor and when his cross was not dealt with by a sluggish looking defence in the 19th minute, MICHAEL CHENNELS gave Tony Pennock no chance.

The home fans with their bright red and green flags behind the goal celebrated, and the journey from Scouseland must have seemed worthwhile for the small group who proclaimed themselves 'Merseyside Royalists'.  County became disjointed though Ashley Evans was working hard in midfield to restore normal service to the front duo of Alsop and Craig Hughes though the home defence held the upper hand.  Lee Fowler produced a neat effort which just cleared the crossbar from 20 yards, but Alsop picked up a yellow card from a very fussy referee, apparently for comments made.

The restart was delayed while a floodlight failure was repaired, though there was little light to illuminate a second half in which it was the home side who produced most of the early running.  County hearts missed a beat as Pennock raced out to dive at the feet of Royalists substitute Lloyd Opara who then dragged his shot across the face of an open goal.  In the 61st minute though Hughes had the ball in the Windsor net though the assistant referee was possibly a little trigger happy with the offside flag.  Bowen became the second County player to offend the referee with his comments.

Windsor had the ball in the County net three minutes later when Chennels found space behind County's defence but Opara was yards offside when he knocked the ball into the net.  In the 67th minute the match official who had seemed determined to draw attention to himself, missed a clear handling offence by a Windsor defender who raised his arm to block an Alsop header.  It was Big Jules' last contribution as Jermaine Clarke was introduced for his County debut three minutes later.

The equally 'Big Jermaine' had a chance immediately, but his first touch let him down slightly and Dennehy made the save.  The force was with County though and HUGHES, who never allows a lack to form to subdue his effort, gained his reward when he supplied the finishing touch to Ian Hillier's left wing cross.

CLARKE then ensured his immortality by joining an exclusive club, whose founder member was Norman Parselle way back in August 1989 at Moreton-in-Marsh.  He became the 31st player to score on his debut for the Exiles with a stunning header from a very good Richard Evans cross.  His leap might have given him an inside view of the cabin of one of the numerous Jumbo jets who flew over Stag Meadow.

The home side were handed a chance of a replay when the referee confused everyone by awarding a free-kick in the 'D', apparently for holding, while Pennock was punching away a cross.  Steve Jenkins was the third County player to receive a premature Christmas card for questioning the decision but the setpiece was sent into the Royal estate by O'Connor and the ball was presumed to be a casualty of a rifle usually reserved for pheasants.

Jason Bowen then left an abiding memory of his sublime skills but Richard Evans miscued spectacularly from his cross.

Man of the Match:

Windsor: Terry O'Connor - strong runs down the left.

County: Jason Bowen - for his moments of magic.

Special Mention: Jermaine Clarke - an instant hero.