Newport County's newly appointed manager, Hayden Mullins, celebrated his debut on the sidelines with a pre-season triumph, securing a 2-1 victory against Yeovil Town at Huish Park.
Mullins, a former midfielder for Crystal Palace and West Ham United, was unveiled as the Exiles' new boss on Friday morning and immediately took charge for Saturday's friendly match. His team, competing in League Two, successfully overcame a deficit to defeat their National League opponents.
The match saw Yeovil open the scoring through Luke McCormick, assisted by Slavi Spasov. However, Newport quickly equalized before halftime, courtesy of a goal from recent acquisition Shaquille Gwengwe. Gwengwe, who had an impressive record of 47 goals for Poole Town last season, capitalized on a set-piece delivered by Matt Smith. The Welsh midfielder also played a crucial role in setting up the Exiles' second goal, with defender Lee Jenkins finding the net just five minutes into the second half.
Newport's attention now shifts to an eagerly anticipated friendly encounter at Rodney Parade on Tuesday (19:00 BST) against Roma, a team that recently suffered a 4-1 defeat to Cardiff City. Mullins' squad is actively preparing for their competitive season opener, scheduled for Saturday, August 8th (15:00 BST) against AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup.
This early win under new leadership instills confidence and optimism for Newport County as they build towards a promising season, demonstrating resilience and a strong offensive presence in their pre-season campaign.
