TWO goals apiece from Frank Nouble and Matty Dolan earned Newport County AFC a comfortable victory against Gloucester City in Evesham.

Striker Nouble slotted in his first midway through the first half and smashed in a second five minutes before the break.

Ethan Moore pulled one back for the hosts on 51 minutes before Dolan’s double settled the contest.

The former Yeovil Town midfielder curled his first just inside the far post, with an assist from the slick wet turf.

Five minutes later he tried to repeat the trick and once again he found the bottom corner of the net, although this time via the legs of Gloucester goalkeeper Alex Harris and a possible touch from half-time substitute Jamie Turley.

With manager Michael Flynn back in the dugout after his UEFA Pro Licence study trip to Portugal, it was a welcome goal glut against their toughest opponents so far in pre-season.

Joss Labadie was a surprise starter for the Exiles in midfield alongside Dolan and Sean Rigg.

Coach Wayne Hatswell had indicated in midweek that the captain was not expected to feature until the week before the big kick-off.

But he was given the all-clear to play with a cast on his left arm as he continues to recover from an operation on his wrist.

South Wales Argus:

Labadie (above) enjoyed a useful 45 minute run-out in difficult conditions, with heavy rain early on making life tough in the opening stages.

County goalkeeper Joe Day almost let a Joe Hanks free-kick slip through his hands before miscuing a clearance as the ball proved hard to control.

The first chance came after 18 minutes when a Sean Rigg curler was tipped onto the angle of post and bar by Harris.

Nouble’s opener followed soon afterwards and the Exiles number nine, otherwise known as Trialist 2, went close 10 minutes before the break but his point-blank effort was saved by the chest of Harris.

South Wales Argus:

Tim Harris’ Gloucester, who fielded ex-County players Kieran Parselle (above) and Joe Parker, took a while to get going.

Right-back Keiran Thomas, who had a trial at Derby County last season, had his hands full with the lively Lamar Reynolds.

But he got forward once before the break and let fly with a powerful drive that cleared Day’s bar by a foot.

Nouble doubled his tally and the visitors’ lead five minutes before the interval after controlling a Dolan cross from the left and firing in from 10 yards out.

Moore was the main threat for Gloucester and he was denied by Day in the final minutes of the first half and a brilliant Mickey Demetriou block five minutes after the restart.

The striker did finally get his goal on 51 minutes as he curled in from inside the area after a scramble to ensure that County’s wait for a clean sheer in pre-season goes on.

Nouble missed his chance for a hat-trick as he cut inside and blasted a shot over the stand and Rigg was again denied by a super save from Harris before Dolan took centre stage.

Marlon Jackson, one of 10 second half substitutions, was denied his third goal of pre-season by the fingertips of Harris.

And his afternoon ended prematurely when he was forced off with a hamstring injury five minutes from time.

South Wales Argus:

Ben Swallow (above), one of four trialists to feature, crossed brilliantly from the right in the final minute but fellow sub Aaron Williams headed over from close range.

County: Day, Barnum-Bobb (Trialist 4, 46), Trialist 1 (Butler, 46), Demetriou (Foulston, 61), O’Brien (Turley, 46), Dolan (Trialist 3, 61), Labadie (Bennett, 46), Rigg (Owen-Evans, 61), Nouble (Williams, 61), Reynolds (Willmott, 46), Trialist 2 (Jackson, 46)

County sub not used: Bittner