Newport County continued their 100 per cent pre-season record with their late, late show at Caerleon - but the Dr Martens League side know that sterner assignments lie ahead.

Welsh League Division One Caerleon, though, gave Peter Nicholas' men more than a few headaches before Newport striker Raith Plant sealed the Exiles' fourth straight pre-season win in the final minute.

But County, who have played three Welsh League teams and one Gwent County team so far, will have to step up a gear as the tougher tests come thick and fast - as his men face three matches in the next seven days.

Welsh Premier League Carmarthen Town are the hosts for tomorrow's latest County friendly road trip, and assistant manager Glyn Jones is expecting a much tighter battle.

"We would expect Carmarthen to be a tougher test, yes, but Caerleon were well organised, fit and a good side.

"But results don't mean anything in pre-season, you don't win anything now.

"This is all part of our process. It was important at the start of pre-season to build the players' fitness levels up and I'm really pleased with their reaction.

"Pattern of play is also a key area, and we've worked on that, too - but we'll look at that in more detail in training this week.

"The Carmarthen game will test us more defensively, and that's important as we assess every player's level of performance."

Nicholas and Jones again ran the rule over a number of Spytty Park triallists. Chinese World Cup star Fan Zhiyi played his third game in the amber and black of Newport County, and ex-Swansea City midfielder Gareth Phillips also played.

Jones was particularly pleased with former Cardiff City right-back Steve Williams, who "did very well".

"It was another good workout for the boys, and Raith Plant took his goal well," added Jones.

Newport face Carmarthen at Richmond Park tomorrow (7pm) before welcoming Combined Counties side AFC Wimbledon to Spytty Park on Saturday (3pm). County then travel to Mangotsfield United of the Dr Martens League Western Division tomorrow week.

And Jones revealed that County frontman Mark Dickeson could play at Carmarthen tomorrow, as he is recovering well from a thigh injury sustained at Newport YMCA ten days ago.