Goals from the two Scott’s, Barrow and Boden, gave County a 3-1 victory over Torquay.
Newport County AFC continued their pre-season schedule with a trip to the English Riviera to play Conference outfit Torquay United.
County manager Terry Butcher named new signing Scott Boden in the starting line-up, as the ex-Halifax striker linked up with Lenell John-Lewis to lead Newport’s attack at the Launa Windows Stadium.
Fans hardly had time to find their seats before for the first goal of the game. County earned a free-kick twenty-five yards from goal and with both Mark Byrne and Scott Barrow standing over the ball, it was Scott who fired the ball into the bottom right-hand corner, past Luke Simpson.
The hosts were keen to ensure the game had a lively tempo, with James Hurst making a number of breaks down the right-wing that tested the County defence. Youngster Regan Poole managed to intercept a number of Hurst’s crosses into the area that had the potential to be dangerous.
The equaliser for the hosts came after twenty minutes. Defender Angus MacDonald lined up an attempt from thirty yards, which took a deflection off the outstretched leg of Regan Poole and with Joe Day wrong –footed, the ball sailed into the net.
County responded by upping their attacking intent, with winger Medy Elito being the catalyst of many County endeavors into the hosts half. The winger almost found himself on the score-sheet, after being released by Scott Boden and advancing into the host’s area, only for his placed effort to be saved by Luke Simpson.
Medy was involved when County did take the lead in the thirty-sixth minute, playing a delightful angled pass through to Scott Boden who finished calmly past the out-rushing Luke Simpson.
New signing Scott Boden almost doubled his goal tally straight after. A clever turn just inside the Torquay area allowed the striker time to unleash an effort towards goal but Luke Simpson was able to save his effort and push his ball away to safety.
Just before the break County almost added a third. A Mark Byrne corner was narrowly headed over the crossbar by forward Lenell John-Lewis.
Torquay made four substitutions at the break, including a change in goal with Luke Simpson being replaced by Dan Lavercombe. The substitute ‘keeper was soon called upon early on in the second half , when Medy Elito cut inside from the right and fired a driven effort that had to be tipped around the post.
County added a third goal in the forty-ninth minute, when Lenell John-Lewis unleashed a cross from the left that was neatly finished by Scott Boden from six-yards out.
Joe Day was then called upon to make a save down low with his feet to deny Torquay’s Luke Young from scoring, after he advanced unchallenged into the County area.