Michael Flynn made it a happy return to Rodney Parade to complete a third win of the season over Newport County, as his Cheltenham Town side ran out 3-0 winners.
A header from Matty Taylor, a lob from Ethan Williams, and a strike from Ethon Archer made it a comfortable Saturday afternoon for the Robins.
Newport started the game with intent, their first attack coming from goalkeeper Nick Townsend, when his long kick was brought down by Bobby Kamwa, who beat Darragh Power down the left wing, playing the ball to Courtney Baker-Richardson, his shot bobbling into the hands of former County ‘keeper Joe Day.
The home side’s intensity created another opportunity as Cameron Antwi was found free outside the box. The midfielder tried his luck, shooting low but his shot was comfortably stopped by Day.
Good footwork by Josh Martin presented him with an effort towards goal, however his shot rolled wide of the target.
On the half hour mark, Cheltenham’s first clearcut chance of the first-half led to the opening goal, Ethan Williams’ cross from the left was guided home by the head of Matty Taylor, planting his header into the top left corner, beating Townsend to give the visitors the lead.
Taylor spurned the chance to double the Robins’ lead, the ball falling to him from a tight angle yards from goal, lifting his shot over the bar.
The visitors were not to denied their second just after the break, albeit from a moment of madness by Newport ‘keeper Townsend. Attempting the clear ball away, Townsend struggled to clear his lines, with the ball falling to the feet of the provider of the opener Williams, lobbing the ball into an empty net to double Cheltenham’s lead.
Cheltenham could have sealed the game, the visitors’ high press fashioned a chance for Valintino Adedokun, taking aim only to be denied by Townsend.
Nelson Jardim’s side thought they had halved the deficit, Oliver Greaves’ shot into the ground was met by captain James Clarke, hitting the near post before Baker-Richardson, in the same passage of play, fired home, but referee Jeremy Simpson disallowed the goal for a push in the build-up.
The Robins sealed the three points with a third. Ethon Archer, 20-yards from goal, drilled his into the bottom right corner comfortably past Townsend make it 3-0 to the visitors.
Before the game could restart, Newport went down to ten men, Baker-Richardson, who had found fault with the third goal, had a discussion with fourth official, Steven Payne. Simpson sent Baker-Richardson off with a second booking to add more misery to a disappointing result for the Exiles.
This result culminated in Newport’s first defeat in seven matches and drop to 16th in the League Two table. They hope to put this result right with a trip to second-placed Doncaster next Saturday. Kick-off is at 3pm.