LEWIS Collins was taken off as a precaution as Newport County AFC kicked off their pre-season campaign with a 7-0 win at Undy AFC.

Unlike past campaigns, manager James Rowberry took his first team squad to the Causeway on Friday evening rather than trialists and youngsters with everybody getting the chance for 45 minutes.

The only absentees were defender Priestley Farquharson, who is being carefully worked back after knee surgery ended his 2021/22 campaign, and new striker Omar Bogle, who will link up with his new teammates on Monday.

New boys Will Evans, Aaron Wildig and Sam Bowen struck in the first half before a James Waite brace, an own goal and an Offrande Zanzala penalty.

Most importantly, County emerged unscathed with midfielder Jack Karadogan able to brush off a wild challenge in the first half before Collins' brief spell after the break.

The striker went down with a tight hamstring with the score at 5-0 and, after a week of graft in a training camp in Cheshire, the medical team erred on the side of caution and youngster Tom Stokes came on.

County used the opportunity to blow away the cobwebs in the countdown to their League Two opener at Sutton on Saturday, July 30.

As expected, they bossed possession against their determined Ardal South East hosts and they got the breakthrough after 14 minutes.

Evans, a summer signing from Bala, produced a deft back-heel finish to turn in a driven Karadogan cross after a good combination down the right by Harrison Bright and Aaron Lewis.

The second came after half an hour when Wildig drove in with the help of a slight deflection from inside the box.

It was three after 39 minutes when captain Matty Dolan rolled the ball to Bowen from a corner and the summer arrival from Cardiff City curled a cracker into the top left corner.

A good block by Lewys Twamley denied the hosts on the stroke of half-time when it was all-change for the Exiles.

The fresh legs exposed some weary Undy ones with Waite turning in a Zanzala cross before doubling his tally with fast feet and a neat finish after 51 minutes.

The sixth came when Stokes hit the left post with a header and it rebounded in off the unfortunate home captain Chris Parry with quarter of an hour to go.

The lively Stokes was denied again by a superb save but it was seven when Waite was fouled in the box and Zanzala rolled in the penalty.

County are next in action on Saturday, July 9 when they host Hungerford in a behind closed doors friendly at Dragon Park that will feature two 60-minute games.

The same format will be used against Cardiff City at Leckwith Stadium before 90-minute tune-ups at Weston-super-Mare, Torquay and Forest Green Rovers.

County first half: Day, Bright, Dolan (captain), Demetriou, Aaron Lewis, Twamley, Bowen, Wildig, Karadogan, Evans, Zimba.

County second half: Townsend, Clarke, Drysdale, Woodiwiss, Norman, Adam Lewis,Bennett, Willmott, Waite, Zanzala, Collins (Stokes).

Subs not used: Ovendale, Cadwallader, Rai.