Match Report: Yeovil Town 1 Newport County 2
Yeovil Town wrapped up pre-season for the 2026/27 season with a 2-1 defeat to League Two side Newport.
Luke McCormick gave the Glovers the lead in the very early stages, but Newport hit back through two bits of quality from set pieces. Goals from one time rumoured Glovers’ target Shaquille Gwengwe and Lee Jenkins sent the visitors, playing under new manager Hayden Mullins for the first time, back to South Wales with a win.
First half
After a quiet first few moments, Brett McGavin won the ball back and a combination of excellent work from Archie Davies down the right hand side to find Slavi Spasov who laid the ball into the path of Luke McCORMICK who struck the opening goal with pretty much the first chance of the match in only the fourth minute.
The Glovers were in control for most of the first ten minutes, McGavin had a shot deflected wide from distance and Slavi Spasov forced a chance from the resulting corner.
It took until almost 20 minutes ticked over on the clock before County found some attacking impetus, a free kick from Matt Smith was cleared, as was the recycled ball in from Smith after, with Spasov doing his defensive duties in his own penalty area.
Another free-kick for the EFL side caused slightly more concern for the Glovers a few minutes later, but Shaq Gwengwe’s effort was charged down by Skipper Luke McCormick.
Newport were just starting to get their movements going and Christian Doidge linked up with Yahya Bamba who was pressured by Jos Barker into making a decision and the effort was skewed wide.
The equaliser did come on the half hour mark with another free kick causing some hassle for the Glovers at the back and Shaquille GWENGWE bundled home at the back post.
A half of two halves came to a close with just a single additional minute added on. All square at 1-1, with both sides having their chances to find a second.
Half-time: Yeovil Town 1 Newport County 1
Second half
Zain Westbrooke and Ryan Jones were introduced at the break with James Daly and Brett McGavin taking the second half off.
Five minutes into the second half, another set piece caused problems for Yeovil. A cross whipped in from Matt Smith, Jos Barker didn’t claim the ball and LEE JENKINS tapped home at the back post to give the League Two side the lead for the first time in the fixture.
The clock had ticked towards the hour mark before Yeovil managed to impose themselves in the second half, Archie Davies once again proving to be the out ball. His right hand sided cross evading both McCormick and Spasov in the area.
Davies was causing trouble down the right hand side, he and Ryan Jones combined to play Westbrooke in, who’s cross was unable to find a green shirt and then calls for a penalty as Davies came together with a Newport defender, but appeals were waved away.
A couple of changes for Newport saw Ciaran Brennan and a trialist entered the fray.
It wasn’t long before the Glovers were again looking at the bench; Spasov, Gubbins and Radcliffe made way, with Ste Walker, Joy Mukena and Jack Kingdon coming on for the final 25 minutes.
The Glovers tried a training ground move for a free kick in a dangerous area, but McCormick’s effort was wayward.
McCormick would be replaced by Johl Powell with 20 minutes of the game left, whilst Davies made way for the Glovers’ own trialist (Brad De Jesus).
Ryan Jones and Ste Walker linked up well after the break in play, De Jesus created space for Jones to cut inside and take a shot which was well saved for a corner.
From the resulting set piece, Mukena had a chance cleared close to the line by Joe Thomas.
Plenty of Newport subs continued to break up the flow of the final stages, but the likes of De Jesus, Powell and Walker were all looking lively, in attacking areas.
Powell had a shot blocked in the final stages following a delightful dummy from Ste Walker after Norville-Williams had whipped a cross in down the left hand side.
That was all she wrote for the Glovers, as the clock ticked 90 minutes, the whistle brought the pre-season schedule to an end.
Yeovil head to Scunthorpe United to get their National League Premier Division season underway next weekend.
Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Newport County 2
Teams:
First half – Yeovil Town: Jos Barker, Jordan Norville-Williams, Joe Gubbins (for Joy Mukena, 66), Ben Radcliffe (for Jack Kingdon, 66), Hayden Muller, Brett McGavin (for Zain Westbrooke, 46), Archie Davies (for trialist Brad De Jesus, 76), James Daly (for Ryan Jones, 46) Luke McCormick (for Johl Powell, 72), Mason Obeng, Slavi Spasov (for Stephen Walker, 66).
Newport County: Jordan Wright, Cameron Norman, Lee Jenkins, Kyle Cameron, Joe Thomas, Cameron Evans, Matt Smith, Harrison Biggins, Yahya Bamba, Christian Doidge, Shaquille Gwenge.
Scorers: Luke McCormick 4 (1-0) Shaquille Gwengwe 31 (1-1), Lee Jenkins 50 (1-2)
Attendance: 980
