Colchester United have been eliminated from First Round of the Emirates FA Cup following a 2-0 defeat at Newport County.
The U’s were beaten by a goal in either half from the hosts, after a scramble from Mickey Demetriou’s throw in saw Kieran O’Hara turn the ball into his own net.
And substitute Aaron Collins finished the game off midway through the second period, slotting a shot low beyond the U’s ‘keeper, eliminating Bloomfield’s side from the FA Cup.
Matt Bloomfield named a starting eleven with four changes from Tuesday’s defeat at Barrow, with Kieran O’Hara, Freddie Sears, Noah Chilvers and Ossama Ashley all returning to the team.
They took the places of Sam Hornby, Luke Hannant, Alex Newby and Marley Marshall Miranda, who were all named on the bench. Joining them among the substitutes for the first time this season were Club Captain, Tommy Smith, and Samson Tovide who had both been working hard to recover from injury.
The game started at a steady pace with both sides adapting to the slippery conditions on the Rodney Parade pitch.
The U’s created a couple of half chances in the opening twenty minutes of action, but it was the home side that went closest to opening the scoring in South Wales. Aaron Lewis’ looping free kick seemed to canon off a player in blue and white, with an alert O’Hara pushing the ball away from danger.
And O’Hara was called into action for a second time five minutes later. This time, Cameron Norman was afforded a little too much time and space to take on the shot, driving an effort toward goal that the U’s ‘keeper had to tip over the crossbar.
But the Exiles managed to break the deadlock three minutes later, with Norman involved again. Mickey Demetriou’s long throw in caused panic in the U’s six-yard area, with the ball nestling in the bottom corner as Norman wheeled away in celebration, although it was credited as a Kieran O’Hara own goal.
The last fifteen minutes of the first half became disjointed with both Ossama Ashley and Dan Chesters needing treatment from the physio before the break, as the visitors maintained their one-goal advantage until half time.
There were no changes for either side at the break, and it was the visitors who had the first chance of the half. Freddie Sears saw an effort deflected high into the air, allowing Alan Judge to head the ball goalwards, only for Day to collect on the line.
But it wasn’t long before Matt Bloomfield opted for his first change of the afternoon. Dan Chesters, who received treatment from the physio in the first half, was withdrawn as Luke Hannant came on to take his place.
Newport County looked to get back on top though, and Ryan Clampin was shown a yellow card for a foul on James Waite, before Coughlan made his first substitution of the afternoon, replacing Adam Lewis with Aaron Lewis on the hour mark.
The home side were knocking on the door for a second, and almost had it just a minute later with Cameron Norman’s audacious backheel. Another long throw from Demetriou bounced awkwardly in the area, with Norman able to connect, forcing a superb stop from O’Hara, pushing the effort onto the woodwork.
Bloomfield responded with another two substitutions, as Alan Judge and Freddie Sears made way for Beryly Lubala and John Akinde with just under twenty-five minutes of play remaining.
The hosts got their second goal with little over ten minutes to play, and it was provided by substitute Aaron Lewis. He received the ball on the left apex of the penalty area, and planted a low shot beyond O’Hara to double the advantage for his side.
The U’s made another two changes with Nouble and Ashley taken off, replaced by Samson Tovide and Marley Marshall Miranda as the visitors looked to rescue the cup tie.
But the visiting side couldn’t force their way back into the game in the last moments of play, exiting the Emirates FA Cup at the First Round stage.
Up next is another away game for Matt Bloomfield’s team, travelling to Crewe Alexandra next weekend in Sky Bet League Two.
Newport County Starting XI: Day, Norman, Clarke, Farquharson, Bogle, Waite (Collins 90’), Bennett, Moriah-Welsh (Dolan 89’), Lewis (Lewis 59’), Demetriou, Evans.
Subs: Drysdale, Bowen, Willmott, Dolan, Lewis, Zimba, Nevers, Collins, Townsend.
Colchester United Starting XI: O’Hara, Clampin, Chambers, Judge (Lubala 66’), Sears (Akinde 66’), Chilvers, Ashley (Marshall Miranda 78’), Eastman, Tchamadeu, Chesters (Hannant 54’), Nouble (Tovide 78’).
Subs: Hornby, Smith, Hannant, Lubala, Newby, Akinde, Kazeem, Marshall Miranda, Tovide.
Attendance: 2,377 (136)