Blooded County were slashed by a quartet of flashing blades as they slumped to a 14th League Two defeat in England’s Roman mecca.
Surrounded by crumbling historic ruin, charioted gladiators Kyreece Lisbie, towering Samson Torvide, Micah Mbick and substitute Jack Payne struck in either half to send Christian Fuch’s men hurtling to an equal worse thrashing of the campaign.
In 21 league dates this season, the Port have been breached 41 times. Little wonder their rear guard carries the badge of fragility – a label that will leave former Austrian international left-back and Leicester City Premiership title winner Fuchs fuming.
Sammy Braybrooke capped another superb County display with an astonishing consolation, chipping U’s stunned keeper Matt Macey from the half-way line after the hour with a Beckhamesque effort, but even this failed to ease the agony for the 138 hardy Newport fans who had made the 420-mile round trip to the JobServe Community Stadium on the final Saturday before Christmas.
The Exiles had made a trio of changes from the side which dipped 2-0 at home to Fleetwood last Saturday. There was a first start in midfield since August 30 for 19-times capped Wales international Matt Smith, target-man Courtney Baker-Richardson returned after suspension, Ben Lloyd expected to slot into a more advanced right-side position.
On-loan Leicester striker Nathan Opoku had shaken off fluid on the knee to bolster a bench that saw the welcome re-emergence of centre-back Matt Baker after a lengthy layoff through injury.
U’s manager Danny Cowley replaced defender Rob Hunt, dropping former Ipswich man Kane Vincent-Young into the back four, bringing the attack-minded Lisbie in alongside Mbick and top marksman Harry Anderson, the three supporting front-runner Tovide. It proved a potent cocktail.
County had tasted victory just once in their last 13 visits to the garrison city and only an offside flag silenced Colchester cheers inside the opening 20 seconds. Lisbie’s finish cancelled. But this was a fast start by the U’s, Smith cautioned less than a minute later for tripping Teddy Bishop.
Swift inter-changing of passes and fluid movement from the U’s was sparking a raft of concern for retreating County. Cameron Evans’ torso diverted Anderson’s drive, a reprieve before Colchester went ahead on 21 minutes.
The buzzing Anderson released Tovide into the left side of the box, the lanky attacker’s low curling cross clinically lashed into the net by Lisbie at the far post.
The Exiles were wobbling and they nearly caved in again three minutes later, Arthur Read’s side-footing fractionally wide with County stopper Jordan Wright struggling to cover.
Yet the ex-Grimsby custodian showed sheer brilliance in the 38th minutes, his left hand turning away Mbick’s rising blast, this, after Lee Jenkins had been turned inside out by the borrowed Charlton player.
Baker-Richardson was ploughing a loan furrow up top for under-siege Port, almost, though, profiting from Anthony Glennon’s guileful work on the left – this, five minutes prior to Colchester landing a seemingly fatal blow on 42 minutes, menacing Tovide stabbed home his fourth goal of the season.
County handed the skipper’s armband to Baker who replaced James Clarke at the interval. The game Exiles were attempting claw a route back into the clash, and Cameron Antwi almost provided that moments into the restart, the dreadlocked midfielder’s raking shot whistled inches wide of Macey’s upright.
The frailty that badges County as brittle in defence, was so evident in the 64th minute. A passage of slack play allowing the advancing Mbick to round Wright and drive into an empty net.
Blonde midfielder Braybrooke, bravely attempting to reverse a relentless tide, did notch a stunning reply on 66 minutes, though. Steadying, the linkman launched a 50-yard right-footer over a stranded Macey.
It was the former England U-19 captain’s first goal in a senior career that is, surely, destined for the upper tiers of a football, the strike capping yet another outstanding display for County.
Yet as temperatures dipped and the afternoon skies darkened, the Exiles conceded once more six minutes into added time, Owura Edwards doing the spadework for fellow substitute Payne to send a low shot across Wright into the far corner.
Colchester United [4-2-3-1]
Matt Macey
Kane Vincent-Young
Jack Tucker
Harvey Araujo
Ellis Iandolo
Kyreece Lisbie
Teddy Bishop
Arthur Read
Harry Anderson
Samson Tovide
Micah Mbick
Subs
Owura Edwards for Lisbie 72mins
Rob Hunt for Bishop 72 mins
Will Goodwin for Mbick 80 mins
John-Kyman Gordan
Jack Payne for Tovide 56 mins
Tom Smith
Frankie Terry for Iandolo 78 mins
Newport County [4-4-2]
Jordan Wright
Cameron Evans
Lee Jenkins
James Clarke [C]
Anthony Glennon
Matt Smith
Sammy Braybrooke
Cameron Antwi
Ben Lloyd
Courtney Baker-Richardson
Bobby Kamwa
Subs
Nik Tzanev [GK]
Ciaran Brennan for Smith 68 mins
Joe Thomas
Tom Davies for Antwi 84 mins
Nathan Opoku for Baker-Richardson 68 mins
Matt Baker for Clarke 46 mins
Moses Alexander-Walker for Lloyd 68 mins
Referee – Harry Wager
Assistants – Greg Read & Marc Wilson
Fourth Official – Matthew Norton
Attendance 4717 [ Visiting fans 138 ]
