NEWPORT County AFC continued their preparations for the new campaign with a narrow victory at Chippenham Town to maintain their unbeaten start to pre-season.

The 1-1 draw at Undy on Friday night was followed by a 4-3 win at Swindon Supermarine on Saturday when manager Michael Flynn was critical of his side’s defending.

They tightened up at Hardenhuish Park and secured the win through Marlon Jackson’s second-half strike after Robbie Willmott’s early free-kick was cancelled out by a goal from his former County teammate Andy Sandell just after the hour.

Sandell, a fans’ favourite on the left of defence for the Exiles, has been converted into a lethal striker for the National League South newcomers and he was the main threat throughout.

But it was midfielder James Guthrie who warmed Joe Day’s gloves for the first time with a fierce drive inside the first two minutes.

It was the Exiles who opened the scoring, however, as Willmott curled a perfect free-kick just inside the post from 25 yards in the sixth minute.

It was the second set-piece goal of pre-season after his similarly well-taken effort at Swindon on Saturday and suggests County may have found their new dead ball specialist.

Willmott also impressed in open play, running with the ball from deep and also popping up on either flank in an energetic display.

With Flynn away in Portugal as part of his UEFA Pro Licence studies, Wayne Hatswell and Lennie Lawrence were in charge of a team that featured two trialists from the start.

Neither was officially identified but one, ex-Arsenal forward Sanchez Watt, showed some neat touches on the right side of a three-man attack.

Matty Dolan and Sean Rigg were bright and positive alongside Willmott in midfield and the latter went closest to extending the lead in the first 45 minutes with a speculative long range effort.

At the other end Sandell beat one man before attempting to bend a shot into the top corner but finding only the tin roof of the stand behind Day’s goal.

Scott Donnelly, another ex-County man, also went close with a free-kick that just cleared Day’s crossbar from 20 yards out but the visitors maintained their 1-0 lead into the break.

In a pre-planned move, Hatswell and Lawrence made 11 changes for the second half.

James Bittner replaced Day, while Scot Bennett, Mark O’Brien and Jazzi Barnum-Bobb came into defence and Jackson, Lamar Reynolds and Frank Nouble were drafted into the attack.

Tom Owen-Evans came into the centre of midfield alongside Ben Swallow and two other trialists – one in midfield and one at left-back.

Reynolds, sporting green boots and a shirt with no name or number, impressed on the left-flank in the opening stages of the second half.

The 21-year-old, who netted his first goal at Swindon, almost added another as he cut in from the left and unleashed a shot that just cleared the bar from 20 yards out.

At the other end Sandell was determined to score against his former employer.

He went close again with a free-kick that was just too high and he finally got his goal on 62 minutes.

A rusty-looking O’Brien and Bennett allowed the ball to be played through to the former Exiles skipper in space in the area and he turned quickly to expertly slot the ball past Bittner.

Reynolds was the main man for County as they pushed for a winner in the last half-hour and his pace and trickery caused the home defence all sorts of problems.

The Jamie Vardy Academy graduate saw a vicious shot diverted onto the post by Chippenham goalkeeper James Rae on 70 minutes.

And he created the winner four minutes later, crossing from the left for Jackson to fire under the keeper from inside the area.

Nouble forced a fine save from Rae and the unidentified Trialist 5, otherwise anonymous, also saw a shot comfortably held.

Reynolds then beat four men in a blistering run that was only ended by an agricultural challenge on the edge of the area but County had to settle for two goals in what was another useful tune-up.

County first half: Day, Butler, Demetriou, Turley, Pipe, Dolan, Rigg, Willmott, Trialist 1, Williams, Trialist 2

County second half: Bittner, Trialist 3, O’Brien, Bennett, Barnum-Bobb, Trialist 4, Owen-Evans, Trialist 5, Reynolds, Jackson, Nouble