MONMOUTH Town enjoyed their big day out at Spytty Park, earning a 2-0 win to knock Newport County out of the Gwent Senior Cup.

Goals from Andrew Smith and Matthew Bowen were enough to give the MacWhirter Welsh League Division Three outfit victory.

It was County’s second cup exit in three days, although this defeat was a little easier for the fans to take than Saturday's FA Cup loss at Paulton Rovers.

Monmouth could have had more than two as the youthful home side found it was a classic case of men against boys. County played plenty of pretty football but they were outmuscled by the vastly more experienced visitors.

The Kingfishers’ leading scorer Phil Tranter gave the home defence plenty of problems and went close twice before he was pulled back in the area by Exiles captain Gary Colborne on 24 minutes.

Former County player Smith stepped up to send Kieran Blackburn the wrong way and give Monmouth a deserved lead.

County’s best chance of the first half came from a Josh Brown free-kick from 20 yards which forced a good save from visiting ’keeper Chris Campbell.

After the break Brown was again involved as he linked with Thomas Triggs and substitute Joe Leahy to almost fashion an equaliser.

But Monmouth made the game safe with a second goal moments later when Bowen fired home from six yards out after a fantastic run from Elliott Ford.

County: Blackburn, Brown (Morgan, 66), Hughes, Harvey, Colborne, N Cook (Leahy, 58), Alcock (Latner, 80), Greening, Triggs, Davies, Newman

Sub not used: Harris

Monmouth: Campbell, Davies, Spence, Smith, D Palmer (A Ford, 71), Kennedy (Harris, 82), S Palmer, Alderdice, Bowen (Lewis, 78), Tranter, E Ford

Subs not used: Roberts, Pick.

Referee: Mark Dyson

Attendance: 263