AS tennis stars Andy and Jamie Murray were putting Britain in the driving seat in their Davis Cup tie against France, two Scotts earned Newport County an impressive win at Torquay United.

Striker Scott Boden wasn’t even expected to play as he is behind his teammates in terms of match fitness but he netted twice in an excellent debut after defender Scott Barrow had given the Exiles an early lead.

Medy Elito also produced an eye-catching display in attack and Regan Poole and Matt Taylor combined well in defence but this was Boden’s day.

And if this was him half-fit and lacking sharpness then County fans are in for a treat when the former Halifax front man is fully up to speed.

It was an encouraging day for County boss Terry Butcher who was still without six senior players with Danny Holmes, Nathan Ralph, Kevin Feely, Alex Rodman and Yan Klukowski joining long-term absentee Andrew Hughes on the sidelines.

Youngster Lewis Bamford made his first start for the senior team, while the bench had a very youthful look.

Goalkeeper Rhys Taylor and trialist Dave Vincent were acting as responsible adults for Kieran Parselle, Aaron Collins, Corey Shephard, Tom Owen-Evans and Daffyd Jones.

Vincent’s fellow trialist Branimir Kostadinov was given another chance to impress from the start up front but he failed to shine alongside Boden and Lenell John-Lewis.

Elliot Scotcher was not involved having been informed in midweek that he would not be earning a contract at Rodney Parade.

After the disappointment of the midweek defeat at Bath City, when the Exiles looked lethargic throughout, they were much brighter on the south coast.

Barrow converted a free-kick in the third minute but home goalkeeper Luke Simpson will feel he should have done better.

He got two hands to Barrow’s strike but could only help it inside his near post to give the visitors the perfect start.

The Gulls responded well with James Hurst and Louis Briscoe going close and Taylor brilliantly blocking another Briscoe effort after a scramble in the box.

And they were level on 21 minutes as Angus McDonald’s shot was deflected past Joe Day by the boot of Poole.

The 17-year-old was unlucky to see his attempted block divert the ball into the back of the net but he looked assured at centre-back as Taylor marshalled him through the game.

Torquay were deservedly level after the first quarter but the latter stages of the first half saw County up their game considerably.

Elito, playing on the left of midfield in a loose 4-3-3 formation but often drifting inside, and Boden were the key men.

First Boden released Elito with a clever throughball but the winger’s was not powerful enough to beat Simpson at his far post.

Then on 37 minutes Elito returned the favour as he played in Boden and the former Halifax striker coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the net to restore County’s lead.

John-Lewis had three opportunities to increase the Exiles’ advantage before the break with Simpson blocking his first two chances and the striker heading just over with the third.

Boden could have added to his tally as well as County began to dominate just before the break.

He turned his marker inside out before being denied by Simpson and then headed just wide on the stroke of half-time but he did notch a second five minutes after the interval.

John-Lewis was the provider this time with a cross that Boden converted on the volley from close range, giving substitute keeper Dan Lavercombe little chance.

Boden was denied a debut hat-trick as he was replaced by Collins after 65 productive minutes and the sub soon created a chance for John-Lewis.

The academy graduate threaded the ball through the home defence and John-Lewis curled his shot just off target from the edge of the area.

Owen-Evans replaced Kostadinov for the final ten minutes and County held onto their lead fairly comfortably despite some late pressure from the hosts.

County: Day, Twumasi, Poole, M.Taylor, Barrow, Byrne, Bamford, Elito, Boden (Collins, 65), John-Lewis, Kostadinov (Owen-Evans, 81) Subs not used: R.Taylor, Parselle, Vincent, Shephard, Jones