Omar Bogle strikes late for Newport County in Exeter

The Exiles got their campaign off to a perfect start thanks to the striker’s 82nd minute strike at St James Park.

It was goalless at the break with Will Evans, star of the Carabao Cup win over Portsmouth, missing the best chance when denied in a one-on-one.

The Grecians hit the front after 51 minutes through Southampton loanee Kegs Chauke only for Cardiff City striker Chanka Zimba to respond quickly with a cool finish.

The game looked to be heading for a draw and a penalty shootout to decide an extra point but then Bogle, fresh from a double at Harrogate, controlled an Adam Lewis long pass majestically to not have to break stride and then calmly finished through the legs of the ‘keeper.

COOL: Chanka Zimba slots for County

County headed to Devon with a strong side of seniors and they backed up the League Two successes against Tranmere and Harrogate either side of the Carabao Cup upset of Portsmouth.

With group games against Forest Green Rovers and Southampton U21s to come in Newport, the squad are well placed to earn more knockout football.

Boss James Rowberry was true to his word and named a strong squad with all 18 having previously started in either League Two or the Carabao Cup this season.

Aaron Lewis was the sole survivor from the side that eased to victory at Harrogate but switched from left wing-back to right-back. Nine of the XI were starters in the cup win against Luton.

County started in a 4-2-2-2 with Priestley Farquharson taking the last step towards full fitness next to captain Matty Dolan at the heart of the defence.

The manager said he wouldn’t just gift appearances to academy talent and that was shown by his entire seven-man bench being starters from the win in Yorkshire.

Exeter rotated their squad with Kegs Chauke, Rekeem Harper and Sonny Cox making their full debuts among some experience, notably Matt Jay in attack.

It was a cagey opening with County’s attacking moments of note a pair of crosses by Dolan and Aaron Wildig that just eluded attackers and a Dolan long-range effort from a free-kick that gave goalkeeper Scott Brown a scare.

Opposite number Joe Day had one iffy moment with the ball at his feet and then a simple save in the 14th minute after a curled shot from Jay was straight at him.

The County stopper then had tougher work when he dived to deny Jack Sparkes after his driven effort from the left with the full-back then flashing a ball across the face of goal.

It then took a timely tackle by Aaron Lewis to deny Josh Coley as he got ready to slot after Exeter made the most of a sloppy Chanka Zimba lay-off.

It remained 0-0 after half an hour with County forced deep when trying to play out through Robbie Willmott and Sam Bowen, with the willing running of Evans a long option up top.

The summer signing from Bala had the visitors’ first real opening after 36 minutes but he fired well over from just inside the box despite it being on his favoured left foot.

If that was half a chance then he had a golden one after 40 minutes when played through by a delightful Wildig pass.

Evans was in on goal and opened up his body to have an effort with his left foot only for Scott Brown to come out on top in a one-on-one.

County finished the half well with Zimba slicing a shot a couple of yards wide and then Wildig scuffing an effort from a Lewis Collins cross.

However, they trailed six minutes after the restart after an attack broke down up front to the frustration of Evans with Exeter working the ball down the right for Jake Caprice to cross for Chauke to slot first time.

County responded rapidly, with a helping hand from the Grecians.

Zimba latched on to a Rekeem Harper back-pass and did what his strike partner couldn’t in a one-on-one, calmly rounding Brown and rolling into the end that would have housed the away contingent for a league game.

Exeter thought they had regained the lead just past the hour when Caprice headed towards goal but Farquharson showed good positioning and dexterity to clear off the line.

Collins and Wildig were denied by good blocks in the 70th minute then Bowen curled an effort just wide from distance.

Rowberry made his first changes after 76 minutes when bringing on James Waite for Zimba and Omar Bogle for Evans, then soon it was Nathan Moriah-Welsh for Wildig.

Penalties were looming but then Bogle made an immediate impact with a wonderful piece of strike play, controlling Adam Lewis’ lofted pass before matching Zimba’s coolness in front of goal.

County led 2-1 and looked to protect the lead with the introduction of physical defenders Declan Drysdale and James Clarke.

Waite perhaps should have sealed the win but couldn’t find the finish to match his wonderful turn to elude the defence on the edge of the box.

It didn’t matter as County avoided the need for spot-kicks.

Exeter: Brown, Kite, Diabate, Grounds, Caprice, Harper, Chauke, Sparkes, Jay, Coley, Cox.

Substitutes: Sowden, Collins, Key, Dieng, Brown, Borges, King.

Goal: Chauke.

County: Day, Aaron Lewis, Farquharson, Dolan (captain), Adam Lewis (Drysdale 84), Willmott, Bowen, Wildig (Moriah-Welsh 78), Collins (Clarke 84), Zimba (Waite 76), Evans (Bogle 76).

Substitutes: Townsend, Nevers.

Yellow: Wildig, Farquharson.

Goal: Zimba, Bogle.

Referee: Darren Drysdale.