PEGASUS JUNIORS v COUNTY (Tonight, KO 7.30)

NEWPORT County AFC head to Hereford tonight as they wind the clock back to face Pegasus Juniors in a rematch of the club’s first competitive game.

Bankruptcy forced County to start from scratch in the Hellenic League in 1989 and Newport AFC, as they were then known, had their first match against Pegasus Juniors.

Tonight’s match at the Old School Lane will be a nostalgic experience for County director of football Tim Harris.

“It’s nice to be able to go back,” said Harris.

“It is phenomenal what our club’s gone on to do – but it’s important never to forget your roots.”

Pegasus manager Chris Hyde previously worked as Harris’ assistant at County, and that was a big reason behind setting up the friendly fixture.

“We want to support Chris, he’s got a great footballing brain and he’ll do well at Pegasus this year,” he added.

“Hopefully we can get a few fans down and help out the club.

“We’ve had a pretty intense pre-season, and we’ve got one or two players carrying knocks, but there will be some experienced players running out for us.”

Exiles manager Justin Edinburgh confirmed that there will be some first team players on show tonight.

“It won’t be a full first team but there will be some players who need minutes so it will be a mix of the youth team and the first team,” said Edinburgh.

“We’ve got to give as many players as many minutes as we can as we look ahead to August 3 and this game will be used as a runout for those squad members who have not really had much action.

“Sunday against Villa will be a stronger team because it is only six days before the Accrington game.”

Triallist Ryan Doble will get a final chance to impress but Mike Flynn and Robbie Willmott are unlikely to feature after picking up injuries in Tuesday’s 3-3 draw with a Reading XI.

“I think Ryan has got something to offer and we’ll have another look at him at Pegasus and make a decision after that,” added Edin-burgh.

“Robbie has gone for an X-ray on his shoulder so we’re hopeful that there is not too much damage there and Flynny was just a tight hamstring.

“We took him off as a precaution.”