Newport County were defeated 4-1 by Chesterfield in a disappointing afternoon in Sky Bet League Two at the SMH Group Stadium.
Will Grigg headed Chesterfield into an early lead, with Will Dickson adding a second just before half-time.
Michael Spellman’s late strike offered the Exiles a lifeline, but any hopes of a comeback were quickly ended as Ronan Darcy and Dilan Markanday struck to secure the points for the hosts.
Newport looked to start brightly as Cameron Antwi was picked out at the back post, but his clever back-heel flick was blocked by his marker.
Chesterfield’s Armando Dobra intercepted the ball in the Exiles’ box but couldn’t find the target, firing into the side netting.
The Exiles came close to opening the score as Bobby Kamwa whipped a ball into the six-yard box for Nathaniel Opoku, whose leaping header was denied by Zachary Hemming.
Will Dickson picked up the ball deep in the Newport half but dragged his shot past the post.
Will Grigg opened the scoring for Chesterfield, guiding a header past Nik Tzanev after being picked out by Liam Mandeville’s cross from deep.
Newport had to scramble to defend a quick Chesterfield break and were able to snuff out the danger.
Moments later, Dickson doubled Chesterfield’s lead, finishing at the end of another counter-attack.
Half-Time
Looking to get back into the match, Kamwa played an inviting ball into the box that was just out of reach for Opoku and Michael Reindorf.
Chesterfield’s Cheyenne Dunkley headed goalwards but the saw his effort sail over the bar.
Applying pressure, Cameron Evans’ shot from the edge of the box was parried out for a corner by Hemming.
The Exiles’ corner caused a scramble in the box but the opportunity couldn’t be converted.
Continuing to pressure Chesterfield’s back line, Kamwa found Tom Davies at the back post but the left back couldn’t generate enough power to beat Hemming.
With 10 minutes left to play, Spellman fired the ball past Hemming to build some momentum for the Exiles.
Despite Newport’s positive spell, Darcy would cool the Exiles’ momentum, chipping the ball over Nik Tzanev from close range.
The hosts made it four not long later as Markanday fires the ball through Tzanev’s legs to pick out the bottom corner.
Full-Time
Starting XI – Tzanev, Ogunneye, Baker, Jenkins, Davies, Braybrooke, Whitmore, Antwi, Kamwa, Reindorf, Opoku
Subs – Wright, Evans, Glennon, Clarke, Lloyd, Spellman, Baker-Richardson
On
Cameron Evans
Courtney Baker-Richardson
Michael Spellman
Ben Lloyd
Off
Cameron Antwi
Nathaniel Opoku
Michael Reindorf
Kai Whitmore
