Moses Alexander-Walker struck the crucial goal two minutes from time as Newport County continued their pre-season preparations with victory at Weston-super-Mare’s Optima Stadium.
The keenly contested affair looked to be heading for a goalless draw until Michael Reindorf slipped a great ball through to the 17-year-old academy product who fired home from an acute angle.
Newport boss Dave Hughes named new loan signing Habeeb Ogunneye on the bench after his move from Manchester United for the fourth pre-season friendly.
Hughes went for a 3-5-2 formation with Joe Thomas at right wing-back, Tom Davies on the left and Matt Baker, Lee Jenkins and Nelson Sanca as the three-man central defence.
Corey Evans, Cameron Antwi and a trialist made up the midfield with Courtney Baker-Richardson and Bobby Kamwa leading the line.
They faced a Weston side from the National League South that included former Newport midfielder James Waite.
Weston-super-Mare: Harris, Trialist, Wood, Avery, Coulson, Dodd, Waite, Pearson, Lewis ©, Trialist, Martin.
Subs: Britton, Pope, Glover, Dawes, Hicks, Jenkins, Trialist, King.
Newport County: Tzanev (Wright 60), Thomas (Ogunneye 45), Jenkins (Clarke 45), Baker (Alexander-Walker 60), Sanca, Davies (Babah 45), Antwi (Lonergan 60), Corey Evans, Trialist (Whitmore 60), Baker-Richardson (Reindorf 45), Kamwa (Garner 60).
Subs (not used): Glennon, Carney.
The home side started well as the rain swept around the stadium, but it was the visitors who created the first half chance when Joe Thomas combined with Corey Evans down the right, but Courtney Baker-Richardson just failed to apply the finishing touch to the near post cross with 15 minutes gone.
Newport had settled by that stage and were on top when Bobby Kamwa had the ball in the net four minutes later only for the linesman’s offside flag to rule out the opener.
And the Exiles thought they had taken the lead again in the 28th minute when Thomas fired an effort on target only for his shot to be deflected onto the bar.
Newport dominated possession for the rest of the half against a good Weston side, but couldn’t make the breakthrough.
Half-time: Weston-super-Mare 0 Newport County 0
Newport made four changes at the start of the second half with James Clarke, academy product Armani Babah, Michael Reindorf and new signing Ogunneye coming on for Baker-Richardson, Thomas, Davies and Jenkins.
The first chance of the half fell to the visitors when Corey Evans did well to win the ball in the middle of the park. He found the trialist who produced a great cross which Reindorf just guided wide of the far post with 52 minutes on the clock.
A host of changes followed for the visitors on the hour with Ged Garner, Kai Whitmore, Moses Alexander-Walker, Riley Lonergan and goalkeeper Jordan Wright coming on.
Garner was straight into the action as his cross found Evans, but Harris made a good save before scrambling the ball clear.
Weston responded well and were enjoying a good spell with 20 minutes remaining as Bak and Dawes came close as Newport were forced to defend their box in numbers.
Garner had a goal-bound shot blocked at the other end, but just as the game looked to be heading for a goalless draw, Newport struck the crucial blow two minutes from time.
Michael Reindorf slipped a great ball through to substitute Moses Alexander-Walker and the 17-year-old academy product fired home from an acute angle.
Full-time: Weston-super-Mare 0 Newport County 1
