TERRY Butcher suffered his first defeat as Newport County AFC manager and lost two key players to injury on a disappointing night at Bath City.

After wins over Undy and Port Talbot, Butcher’s boys faced a stiffer challenge against the National League South side.

And the new-look Exiles, featuring six new signings and a trialist in the starting XI, showed signs of promise but were second best against the determined Romans for most of the match.

Butcher will want to see a marked improvement at National League Premier outfit Torquay United on Saturday.

But of more concern will be the injuries picked up by full-backs Scott Barrow and Danny Holmes either side of half-time.

In terms of team shape, County lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation for the first half with Seth Nana Twumasi sitting in front of the back four.

Matt Taylor captained the side in central defence alongside 17-year-old Regan Poole, making his first start of pre-season.

At 33 Taylor is almost twice the age of Poole but the early signs were that the pair could form a productive partnership at the back for the Exiles.

On the night that former skipper Andy Sandell signed for Chippenham Town as a striker it was Barrow, his replacement at left-back, who looked the standout performer of the new arrivals.

The former Macclesfield defender, who scored with a superb free-kick in the 3-1 win at Port Talbot last weekend, looked neat and tidy at the back and linked up well with youngster Aaron Collins on the left of midfield.

New father Mark Byrne, one of the few familiar faces from last season, was the best player on the pitch in the opening half as he partnered trialist Elliott Scotcher in central midfield.

Tom Owen-Evans, who also scored with an impressive lob at Port Talbot, was a little isolated wide on the left.

And up front Lenell John-Lewis showed a good burst of pace and intelligent movement but he squandered several good chances early on.

His opposite number Dave Pratt also missed a couple of sitters, fluffing the first in the opening ten minutes and later smacking the post from close range.

But Bath were worthy of the 1-0 half-time lead given to them by Andy Watkins.

The striker cut inside from the right flank and his scuffed shot beat the unsighted Rhys Taylor and trickled inside his left post in the 44th minute.

That was Barrow’s only blemish in the first half but he was withdrawn at the break and Butcher will hope that he doesn’t join Kevin Feely, Nathan Ralph, Yan Klukowski and Alex Rodman in the treatment room for too long.

Academy graduate Kieran Parselle came on at left-back and made an immediate impact as his cross was perfectly judged for the impressive Collins to head powerfully towards goal but home goalkeeper Steve Phillips was equal to it.

Collins then showed excellent awareness to slip John-Lewis in on goal but the front man hooked his shot wide under pressure from the keeper and got a blow to the head for good measure.

Butcher began to shuffle his pack as trialist Dave Vincent replaced Matt Taylor at the back and it was soon 2-0 to the hosts.

Substitute Nick McCootie’s shot was deflected past a wrong-footed Rhys Taylor as the Romans took charge of the match just before the hour mark.

Much more concerning than the scoreline, however, was the worrying sight of right-back Holmes being helped off the pitch with an injury after a studs-up challenge.

Corey Shephard replaced Holmes and Medy Elito came on for Owen-Evans as Butcher attempted to add some spark to his side but there wasn’t much for the 43 travelling fans to cheer.

County: R.Taylor, Holmes (Shephard, 66), M.Taylor (Vincent, 52), Poole, Barrow (Parselle, 46), Twumasi, Owen-Evans (Elito, 66), Byrne, Scotcher (Bamford, 85), Collins (Jones, 85), John-Lewis

Sub not used: Day