This result will do little to improve the health of Exiles boss Christian Fuchs, who missed his side’s 21st League Two defeat of the season through illness, as Newport County were punished by two decisive second-half goals in a scrappy contest at Rodney Parade.
Plucky Newport had matched second-placed Cambridge United with stubborn resistance for long spells, trading blows in an often physical and disjointed encounter, with both sides struggling to find fluency in difficult conditions in front of a 4,000-plus crowd.
But just as County looked capable of holding firm, moments after Courtney Baker-Richardson went close to breaking the deadlock, Cambridge struck twice in three ruthless minutes to take control. Liam Bennett opened the scoring in the 74th minute before Sullay Kaikai added a second soon after, profiting from defensive uncertainty to seal the points for Neil Harris’ side.
Newport County assistant manager Mark Smith watched on as the hosts’ hard work unravelled late on, with the visitors turning up the pressure and making their superiority in possession count during the decisive spell of the game.
County had started brightly and made just one enforced change from the side that won at Salford City, with Joe Thomas stepping in at right-back for the injured Liam Shephard as the side continued with a midfield diamond system, Ben Lloyd supporting Courtney Baker-Richardson and James Crole in attack.
Cambridge United arrived in good form and with promotion ambitions intact, making a couple of changes including returns for Bennett and skipper Dominic Ball, with Kaikai introduced from the bench to decisive effect later on.
The opening stages were scrappy and competitive, with both sides battling for control in midfield. Cambridge began to edge possession and created the first clear opportunity when Ben Knight was denied at the near post by Jordan Wright on 19 minutes.
The visitors should have led before the half-hour mark when Bennett fired over from close range after a flowing move down the left, while County also threatened in transition through Harrison Biggins and Sven Sprangler, with Lloyd narrowly crowded out in the box after a promising break.
Despite Cambridge enjoying the majority of possession, County stood firm defensively in the first half, with Matt Baker and Ryan Delaney leading a disciplined back line and Wright dealing confidently with a series of set pieces.
After the break, Cambridge continued to apply pressure and almost took advantage when Watts dragged an effort wide following a dangerous corner. At the other end, County came agonisingly close to scoring when Baker-Richardson fired wide after good build-up play from a well-delivered free-kick.
Both managers turned to their benches in search of a breakthrough, but it was Cambridge who seized control. Bennett broke the deadlock in the 74th minute with a close-range header after County failed to clear their lines, before Kaikai made it 2-0 just three minutes later, capitalising on further defensive uncertainty.
County introduced Michael Spellman, Nathan Opoku and Ged Garner in search of a response, but Cambridge managed the closing stages to secure a result that reflected their late dominance.
Newport County
Jordan Wright, Joe Thomas, Matt Baker (c), Ryan Delaney, Tom Davies, Sven Sprangler, Cameron Evans, Harrison Biggins, Ben Lloyd, Courtney Baker-Richardson, James Crole
Subs: Ged Garner, Cole Jarvis, Shaun MacDonald, Nathan Opoku, Michael Spellman, Jaden Warner, Anthony Glennon
Cambridge United
Jake Eastwood, James Gibbons, Mamadou Jobe, Kelland Watts, Liam Bennett, Pelly Mpanza, Shane McLoughlin, James Brophy, Ben Knight, Dominic Ball (c), Louis Appere
Subs: Ben Hughes, Ben Purrington, Korey Smith, Sullay Kaikai, Shayne Lavery, Elliott Nevitt, Sean Raggett
Referee: Lewis Sandoe
Assistants: Sean Rothwell & Ollie Williams
Fourth Official: James Durkin
Attendance: 4,155
