Notts County Football Club

Notts County were beaten 3-0 by Newport County at Meadow Lane.

Sean Rigg opened the scoring before spectacular efforts either side of the break from Rhys Healey and Josh Sheehan put the game beyond the Magpies.

Stanley Aborah and Jonathan Forte came out of the side and were replaced by Jordan Richards and Aaron Collins.

Sheridan named only five substitutes on his bench: Scott Loach, Mike Edwards, Thierry Audel, Elliott Hewitt and Alan Smith.

Newport created the first real chance after a quiet opening 25 minutes. Rigg fired the ball low towards goal from the edge of the area but Adam Collin got down to his right to push it behind.

Minutes later, Sheehan fired the ball into the side-netting from a tight angle.

The visitors were having the better of the play and, shortly after Collin had palmed away Healey's 20-yard curler, Notts went behind.

Richard Duffy sprawled to challenge Healey in the area but fouled him, presenting Rigg with the chance to open the scoring from the spot. Collin got a strong hand to the ball but could only direct it straight back at the Newport man, who had the easy task of finishing on the rebound.

Rigg was at the centre of the action once again shortly after play resumed, earning a yellow card following an aerial collision with Duffy.

But it was his team-mate Healey who would next claim the limelight, dancing through the Notts defence before sending an unstoppable shot past Collin from just outside the area.

Former Magpies centre back Scot Bennett blocked a Genaro Snijders shot as Notts sought a way back into the game before half-time, but 2-0 was how it stayed going into the break.

There were no substitutions at half-time and the visitors had a golden opportunity to extend their lead within five minutes of the restart.

The ball broke through the heart of Notts' defence and Healey had the pace to race through one-on-one with Collin. The keeper made an excellent save with his feet to send the ball looping into the air and behind.

Adam Campbell scuffed a volley wide moments before Sheridan made a double change, sending on Alan Smith and Elliott Hewitt for Collins and Haydn Hollis.

But Notts remained on the back foot and, after Sheehan had rolled the ball wide when he should have hit the target, Healey saw a goal disallowed after he was adjudged to have committed a foul before poking the ball home from eight yards.

The visitors kept up their pressure, wining a 58th-minute free-kick in a dangerous crossing position. Sheehan's wicked delivery saw the ball evade everyone before Collin appeared to get a crucial touch to turn the ball round the post.

It was looking ominous for Notts - and so it proved. Newport's third came after the ball dropped kindly for Sheehan outside the area. The on-loan Swansea midfielder allowed it to bounce in front of him before sending it dipping into the top corner.

Richards entered the book for a trip, Graham Burke saw a shot deflected wide and Snijders had an effort saved before Newport substitute Tom Owen-Evans' long-range effort drew an acrobatic save from Collin, who then had to hang on to an effort from Sheehan.

Smith was booked for remonstrating with the referee as the clock ticked down.

And there was to be no way back for Notts on a bitterly disappointing day at the Lane.