Newport IW Football Club welcomed Worthing United to St George’s Park for a pre-season friendly in what should have been their toughest test of the pre-season so far.
Manager Andy Sampson made one change from the side that defeated the HMS Royal Marines on Thursday night, Liam Triggs starting in place of Jake Younie.
Worthing Utd kicked off attacking the Shide end. Newport looked the better side in the opening passage of play and took the lead after six minutes when the ball was worked down the right and Joe Butcher tapped it in the net from close range at the near post.
The lead was extended on fifteen minutes when Liam Triggs won the ball in midfield before playing it across the face of the goal into the path of Josh Maloney to place it in the net. Two minutes later, Josh Maloney scored again. This time Joe Butcher broke down the left before crossing low into the goal area and in a scramble Josh Maloney forced the ball over the line.
The first half had seen the Newport defence seldom troubled with Cameron Farley not having a shot to save under pressure. In attack the pace of the Newport forwards was troubling the Worthing Utd defence.
Newport started the second half with a goal scoring blitz. Ryan Thomas scored the fourth, just two minutes after the interval when he lobbed the keeper from the edge of the penalty area. Then Liam Newbold broke down the right, before playing the ball back to Joe Butcher to score the fifth. Newport were now constantly threatening their opponents defence and Liam Triggs added the sixth goal on 55 minutes. Five minutes later Josh Maloney completed his hat trick with the seventh goal.
Worthing United scored a consolation goal on 87 minutes when substitute Matt Evans, who is listed as coach and goalkeeper, run on to a through ball and steered it past Aaron Bundy.
For Newport it was a morale boosting win with the new season just a fortnight away.
FT: Newport IW 7-1 Worthing United
