Eastleigh 2 Newport 1

NEWPORT County paid the price for some defensive lapses as they were defeated at National League outfit Eastleigh, despite an impressive enough performance.

This was far from being a night without positives for the Exiles who at times used the ball intelligently and created the better chances in the contest, but they again conceded goals that would concern any manager, let alone one of England’s most decorated central defenders.

Silly mistakes and naivety from set-pieces especially is becoming something of a trend this summer and Butcher will be keen to address that quickly, especially with a Championship outfit the next test.

The Exiles are continuing to pick up the pace in pre-season in terms of the quality of opposition, Eastleigh beaten play-off semi-finalists last season in the Conference National.

And on the back of a fine win at another National League outfit, Torquay United, the Exiles would have travelled down the M4 in confident mood to renew acquaintances with one of their former Conference South sparring partners.

Boss Terry Butcher again opted for a blend of senior players and youth team graduates, though Bulgarian Branimir Kostadinov again started. The Argus understands it is now a case of when, rather than if, that the former Heart of Midlothian pens a deal to remain at Rodney Parade as the Exiles sign their first Bulgarian.

Kostandinov slotted in on the left hand side of an orthodox 4-4-2 formation, providing the width in tandem with Medy Elito, a stand-out performer at Torquay.

The Exiles have a semblance of familiarity about them now despite a raft of senior players still on the treatment table, new head physio Gary Aldridge likely to be the busiest man in Newport in the next two-and-a-half weeks.

That rhythm and understanding was evident in the opening minutes at the Silverlake Stadium, where County could and should have led inside the opening 15 minutes.

They missed two highly presentable chances before the hosts scored with their first shot in anger.

Firstly Lenell John-Lewis and Medy Eliot combined beautifully to tee up a shooting chance for youngster Lewis Bamford, but his effort across goalkeeper Lewis Noice bounced back off the base of the post.

A couple of minutes later the Exiles again test Noice, but Matt Taylor’s effort after John-Lewis knocked down Mark Byrne’s corner looked more like a backpass when power rather than precision was required.

County soon paid for their failure to convert those chances with the first ex-Exiles of the season (but surely not the last) Yemi Odubade hooking home through a crowded penalty area after some sloppy defensive play.

Odubade was one of two Eastleigh players to have formerly strutted his stuff at Spytty Park, alongside defender Chris Todd, who featured as a substitute.

County created a couple of half chances before the interval with Taylor and Regan Poole both denied heading chances from inswinging corners, but when Taylor limped off with what looked like an ankle injury, boss Butcher would have been forgiven for thinking ‘here we go again.’ He was replaced by Nathan Ralph, the former Yeovil man making his first appearance for his new club.

And it’s not all bad news on the injury front, Kevin Feely is due to resume training on Monday and midfielder Yan Klukowski told Argus Sport he expects to feature against QPR on Sunday at Rodney Parade.

The Exile effort to restore parity in the second period drifted along, no chances on goal for either side before the hour, but it was the hosts who settled the clash with twenty minutes remaining when Will Evans was gifted a free header from a corner. Butcher couldn’t hide his anger and the almost comical sight of Mark Byrne on the post unable to reach the ball wouldn’t have helped his mood.

It was the hosts who looked like adding to the scoring with Ben Strevens going close with an audacious volley, but sub Aaron Collins pulled one back close to full time, hammering home from the angle after a quick burst.

County might be a work in progress, but Collins is increasingly looking like the real deal.

Eastleigh: Noice, Partington, Harding, Evans, Reid, Odubade, Payne, Lafayette, Strevens, Cook, Drury

Subs: Midson, Constable, Alexander, Lee, Masterton, Smith, Todd

Newport County: Taylor, Twumasi, Barrow, Poole, Taylor, Byrne, Bamford, Kostadinov, Elito, Bodan, John-Lewis

Subs: Day, Parselle, Collins, Ralph, Shephard, Owen-Evans, Jones