Newport County made it three wins in a row as they cruised to a comfortable 3-0 away win against Crewe Alexandra.
Two first half goals from Cameron Antwi and David Ajiboye put the Exiles into a comfortable lead at the break.
Courtney Baker-Richardson made it three against his former side in the 82nd minute with his first open play goal of the season.
An excellent attacking display was also supported by another impressive defensive display that saw the Amber Army secure their eighth clean sheet of the season.
Head coach Nelson Jardim named an unchanged side to the one that defeated Morecambe last time out.
New signing Keenan Patten made his debut for Newport County after coming off the Exiles substitutes bench with fifteen minutes to go.
The first chance of the game fell to Max Conway whose volleyed effort was blocked strongly by Joe Thomas.
Moments later, a dangerous ball into the box was met by Matus Holicek and his goal bound header was defended excellently by Cameron Evans who diverted the danger.
The hosts went close again but were denied by Evans. It was Shilow Tracey who provided for Crewe as he dragged a ball across the box to Max Sanders who was prevented from scoring by Evans who crucially blocked the effort in the six yard box.
In the 34th minute, The Exiles opened the scoring through Antwi. Crewe were unable to clear a well delivered Anthony Glennon corner and the ball fell to Evans who played it into the feet of Antwi and the midfielder cooly tucked into the bottom right corner.
Five minutes later, Crewe had a great chance to score as Sanders saw another effort blocked brilliantly by Matt Baker near his goal line.
In the very final kick of additional time the Exiles doubled their lead through Ajiboye. It was Bobby Kamwa whose lofted ball set Ajiboye away in the box and the winger’s touch over committed Filip marschall and left him with an open goal to tap home.
Half time
Former Railwayman, Baker-Richardson, went close early in the second half as his strike flashed narrowly across goal.
The Exiles continued to attack as Glennon lifted a lovely ball into the right side of the box that had to be forced away from Baker-Richardson who looked set to hit the target.
The home side had a great chance to pull one back through substitute Tom Lowery who volleyed just wide of the left post.
Baker-Richardson set his sights on goal as the number nine fired over from just outside the box.
There was another great chance for Crewe to pull one back as second half substitute Adrien Thibault nodded his free header wide.
Moments later, Holicek found himself free on the box as he got on the end of Cooney’s ball but once again Crewe were unable to convert.
With seven minutes remaining, Baker-Richardson scored against his former side. It was right back Joe Thomas who created the goal as he drove down the wing before he whipped a cross to the back stick that was headed home by the County striker.
In injury time, County substitute Michael Spellman did brilliantly to drive across the byline and force the ball out for a Newport corner. The following corner eventually fell to Evans in the box whose shot went over the bar.
Full time
Newport County return to League Two action as they host Carlisle United on Tuesday night at Rodney Parade (7:45pm).
Newport County: Townsend, Glennon, C.Evans (Jameson 90’), Baker, Clarke (C), Thomas, Antwi (Patten 75’), McLoughlin, Kamwa (Spellman 90’), Baker-Richardson, Ajiboye (Martin 75’).
Substitutes: Hudlin, Webb, Warner.
Crewe Alexandra: Marschall, Cooney, Knight-Lebel (Thibaut 60’) , Williams (C), Sanders (Lowery 46’), Tracey, Tabiner, Holicek (Agius 90’), Powell, Conway (Finney 46’, Billington 87’), O’Riordan.
Substitutes: Booth.
