Newport County suffered a 2-0 defeat at Rodney Parade against promotion challengers Cambridge United.
A second-half header from Liam Bennett put the visitors in front as Newport looked for an equaliser.
However, a Sullay Kaikai tap-in just minutes later ensured the U’s victory as the Exiles couldn’t find the net late on.
One change was made to the starting eleven that saw victory against Salford on Tuesday, with Joe Thomas replacing Liam Shephard, as well as Anthony Glennon coming in for Lewis Jamieson on the bench.
Neil Harris’ side made two changes to the starting side that faced Colchester midweek, as Bennett and Dominic Ball replaced Ben Purrington and Kaikai, while Glenn McConnell lost his spot on the bench.
It was Ben Knight with the first effort on goal as he attempted to lob Jordan Wright from distance, but his shot caused no threat.
However, a lack of concentration from Mamadou Jobe allowed Courtney Baker-Richardson to sneak up from behind and steal the ball from his feet, but the ball was soon retrieved.
After 10 minutes of end-to-end football, Ben Lloyd fancied his chances from afar, with his shot taking a deflection and the goalkeeper unable to grab hold of the ball, which resulted in a corner.
It was Cambridge who collected the first booking of the game just after thirteen minutes as Pelly Mpanzu’s high foot caught the head of Sven Sprangler, resulting in a yellow card.
The U’s posed another threat as Knight pulled off another shot towards the bottom right corner, but Wright made a great diving stop to deny the opener.
Newport continued to push on, with James Crole initially unable to get a shot off, but the ball eventually found Lloyd. His shot was blocked and cleared away from goal.
The away side started to charge through the flanks, with James Brophy playing a high cross into the box, finding the head of Bennett, whose header narrowly went over the bar.
Near the end of the first half, a free kick delivered into the box from Anthony Glennon found Crole, but his header towards the right side of goal was comfortably saved.
The first chance of the second half went to the home side as Glennon’s curled ball was headed towards goal, but there were too many men in the box for anyone to get a clean shot away.
Cambridge immediately countered, with Knight dribbling through midfield until Sprangler’s challenge caused him to go down, which resulted in a yellow card for the Austrian.
The challenges continued to fly in as Ball saw himself get a yellow card after his sliding challenge on Jarvis stopped a potential chance for the Exiles.
However, a Harrison Biggins free kick found Baker-Richardson in plenty of space, but his first-time shot just whistled past the left post, showing promise for the remainder of the game.
But it was the away side who got the opening goal as a guided cross from James Gibbons came into the box, with Bennett heading the ball downwards between Wright’s legs and into the net.
It was only minutes later that the U’s got their second of the afternoon as Kaikai capitalised on a loose ball in the box to tap it into the net.
Michael Spellman attempted to bring the Exiles back into the game late on as his left-footed shot from outside the box went just wide.
Ged Garner had a chance in the dying moments of the game, but his volley was saved by Jake Eastwood, who ensured he kept his clean sheet.
Newport next face Fleetwood Town next Saturday as the Exiles look to get back-to-back wins away from home.
Newport County: Wright, Thomas (Jarvis 45’), Evans, Baker, Delaney, Davies (Glennon 18’), Sprangler, Biggins, Lloyd (Garner 71’), Crole (Opoku 71’), Baker-Richardson (Spellman 57’).
Substitutes not used: MacDonald, Warner.
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Bennett, Ball, Watts, Brophy (Nevitt 88’), Appere (Lavery 61’), Knight (Purrington 80’), Mpanzu (Kaikai 61’), McLoughlin (Smith 61’), Jobe, Gibbons.
Substitutes not used: Hughes, Raggett.
Attendance: 4155
Referee: Lewis Sandoe
