THEY fought the law, and the law lost. But this was no easy FA Cup victory for Newport County AFC.

In the end it was comfortable enough for County with goals either side of half-time from Padraig Amond and Jamille Matt proving the difference in this first-round tie at Metropolitan Police FC.

But some sloppy defending on a slippery surface allowed the hosts plenty of opportunities in the first half at Imber Court.

And the Exiles were thankful to goalkeeper Joe Day for preventing a tricky afternoon becoming even more difficult.

Amond twice went close before finally breaking the deadlock four minutes before the break.

The striker’s movement caused the home defence problems all afternoon and he linked up superbly with Robbie Willmott.

Playing as a right wing-back, Willmott was the main attacking outlet in the first half and he threaded through a perfect defence-splitting ball for Amond on 27 minutes.

The Irishman scampered clear of the defence but his shot was a fraction off target and clipped the outside of the post on its way behind for a goal-kick.

Amond was convinced that he’d made amends 10 minutes later with a bullet header from Willmott’s free-kick but the offside flag curtailed County’s celebrations.

He didn’t have to wait much longer to get his goal, however, as he met a Willmott corner with a header that hit a defender on its way past Met goalkeeper Luke Williams and trickled over the line.

But Flynn will have been concerned by the way his team defended in a first half that was way too open as far as County were concerned.

The conditions were difficult with thunder and lightning before kick-off and intermittent heavy rain all afternoon.

Day was lucky to get away with dropping a high ball early on but he made a string of saves to frustrate the hosts before the break.

The Exiles number one was helpless as Bayley Mummery headed over but he did well to deny Max Blackmore, Ollie Knight and the impressive Ethan Chislett.

And he saved superbly from Blackmore in the final minute of the half after the Met man was allowed a free header in the six-yard box from a free-kick.

It was all to play for as the teams emerged for the second half but Flynn’s men took a firm grip on the game within three minutes of the restart.

Tyreeq Bakinson did well to work space for a shot on the edge of the area and when his effort was parried away by Williams, Matt was in the right place to fire in from the rebound for his 10th goal of the season.

Mark O’Brien soon replaced David Pipe in the back three and Mickey Demetriou was just off target with a header from a Matty Dolan corner as County began to show their extra quality.

There was still the odd scare and Day was grateful to see a skidding effort from Blackmore go wide after it squirmed from his grasp.

But most of the action was at the other end.

Keanu Marsh-Brown replaced Josh Sheehan midway through the second half and immediately forced Williams into a save before the goalkeeper kept out a Dolan curler and Amond shot high and wide from the edge of the area.

Marsh-Brown then shot straight at Williams, who also denied Bakinson and Dan Butler after substitute Antoine Semenyo had a goal ruled out for offside.

But, with Day in resolute form despite the driving rain and Louis Birch sent off for a second yellow on 88 minutes, two goals were enough to ensure County will be in the hat for Monday’s second-round draw.

County: Day; Pipe (O’Brien, 52), Franks, Demetriou; Willmott, Bakinson, Dolan, Butler; Sheehan (Marsh-Brown, 64); Amond, Matt (Semenyo, 83)

Subs not used: Townsend, Harris, Bennett, Collins

Booked: Demetriou, Butler

Referee: Matt Donohue 

Argus star man: Amond