Swansea City seal win over Newport County in friendly
Swansea City claimed another pre-season victory and clean sheet as goals from Ben Cabango, Josh Key, Joel Piroe and Josh Thomas (2) sealed a 5-0 win over Newport County at Fairwood.
Cabango scored the opener as his prod towards goal beat the County keeper early in the second half.
Key then doubled Swansea’s lead when he finished from an acute angle after a rapid attack from the hosts, before Piroe netted from the spot and Thomas grabbed a late brace.
There was also another defensive shutout in Swansea’s final behind closed doors friendly as Michael Duff’s squad got more valuable minutes under their belt ahead of the new season.
The Swans had started brightly, Cabango just failing to get on the end of an Olivier Ntcham cross, before Joel Cotterill was unable to get to a loose ball after good work by Ntcham and Ben Lloyd down the left.
The visitors had a rare sight of goal just before the half-hour mark as a trialist headed over the bar under pressure from Harry Darling, while Jerry Yates and Key saw their headers fly over the bar and be saved respectively.
It was goalless at the break, but Swansea were soon back on the front foot with Josh Thomas having an effort cleared off the line after Key had got to the byline and hung up a teasing cross.
But Swansea did take the lead in the 51st minute when Cabango sent his follow up effort into the net after a corner was half-cleared.
It was soon 2-0 as Thomas stretched the defence before Lloyd’s excellent cross was turned in by Key arriving at the far post.
Chances kept coming, Darling was denied by a combination of crossbar and keeper as he met another Lloyd centre, while the Newport keeper palmed away an Ntcham strike from distance.
The Swans further extended their lead when Joe Thomas was fouled as he raced onto the ball in the box, and Piroe swept home the resulting spot-kick.
And Josh Thomas continues his fine pre-season form by sweeping home at the end of a fine attack and then volleying in after a Jay Fulton effort was blocked.