Britt Assombalonga led the way with two goals as Braintree edged a seven-goal thriller against Newport County.

Newport midfielder Phil Minshull was sent off for a foul on Brad Quinton in the eighth minute.

Assombalonga got the final touch for the opener but Sam Foley equalised before Sean Marks and Ben Wright put Braintree 3-1 up.

Gary Warren replied but Assombalonga tapped in again before Ryan Charles' late consolation for Newport.

Victory allowed the visitors to climb one place to 12th while Newport remained 17th in the table.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Newport County goalkeeper Glyn Thompson told BBC Radio Wales:

"Everyone's disappointed really because we battled hard. The sending off so early on just killed the game.

"It seemed like a daft decision [by the referee]. That kind of challenge happens numerous times in football.

"The sending off knocked the stuffing out of everybody because we were keen for a good start and a good performance."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

Newport County

  • 18 Thompson
  • 03 Baker (Harris - 46' )
  • 05 Warren
  • 06 Yakubu
  • 25 Rodgers
  • 19 Pipe
  • 28 Sandell
  • 30 Minshull Dismissed
  • 42 Porter (Rose - 86' )
  • 10 Foley
  • 15 Jarvis (Charles - 58' )

Substitutes

  • 01 Potter
  • 23 Harris
  • 20 Charles
  • 26 Buchanan
  • 31 Rose

Braintree Town

  • 01 McDonald
  • 03 Thomas
  • 05 Paine Booked
  • 16 O'Connor
  • 24 Wells
  • 06 Reason Booked
  • 07 Symons
  • 14 Assombalonga (Guy - 90' )
  • 15 Quinton
  • 09 Marks (Bailey-Dennis - 81' )
  • 10 Wright

Substitutes

  • 31 Haxell
  • 04 Bailey-Dennis
  • 11 Guy
  • 25 Pooley
  • 37 Bentley
Ref: Robert Merchant
Att: 1,101

Match Stats

Shots

4 5

On target

3 3

Corners

3 3

Fouls

9 16

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:25 Goal scored

Goal - Romone Rose - Newport Co 3 - 4 Braintree Romone Rose finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Newport County 3-4 Braintree Town.

90:00 +5:21 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +3:25

Assist by Sam Foley.

90:00 +3:25 Goal scored

Goal - Ryan Charles - Newport Co 3 - 4 Braintree Ryan Charles finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Newport County 3-4 Braintree Town.

90:00 +0:22

Unfair challenge on Sam Foley by Ben Wright results in a free kick. Andy Sandell takes the direct free kick.

89:08 Substitution

Substitution (Braintree Town) makes a substitution, with Jamie Guy coming on for Britt Assombalonga.

85:15 Substitution

Substitution Romone Rose is brought on as a substitute for Max Porter.

80:14 Substitution

Substitution Sean Marks leaves the field to be replaced by Adam Bailey-Dennis.

75:33

Ismail Yakubu takes a shot. Save by Nathan McDonald.

71:09

David Pipe concedes a free kick for a foul on Aswad Thomas. Free kick taken by Nathan McDonald.

70:47

Jake Harris takes a shot. Save by Nathan McDonald.

69:19

Britt Assombalonga gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Gary Warren. Direct free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

68:35

Pat O'Connor concedes a free kick for a foul on Jake Harris. Andy Sandell takes the free kick.

67:37

Ben Wright concedes a free kick for a foul on Ismail Yakubu. Glyn Thompson takes the direct free kick.

67:08

Headed effort from deep inside the area by Max Porter misses to the left of the goal.

65:08

The official flags Britt Assombalonga offside. Glyn Thompson restarts play with the free kick.

63:41

Sean Marks challenges Gary Warren unfairly and gives away a free kick. Glyn Thompson restarts play with the free kick.

63:05

Jake Harris concedes a free kick for a foul on Aswad Thomas. Free kick taken by Dean Wells.

61:14

Unfair challenge on Jake Harris by Matthew Paine results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Andy Sandell.

60:02

Jai Reason takes a inswinging corner to the near post.

57:58 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Charles joins the action as a substitute, replacing Nathaniel Jarvis.

54:09

Andy Sandell challenges Sean Marks unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Brad Quinton.

51:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Pat O'Connor on Jake Harris. Andy Sandell takes the direct free kick.

50:49

Brad Quinton concedes a free kick for a foul on Sam Foley. Direct free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

50:29

Sean Marks takes a shot. Glyn Thompson makes a save.

48:16 Goal scored

Goal - Britt Assombalonga - Newport Co 2 - 4 Braintree Britt Assombalonga finds the back of the net with a goal from close range low into the middle of the goal. Newport County 2-4 Braintree Town.

47:33

Ben Wright challenges Sam Foley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Max Porter restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Lee Baker goes off and Jake Harris comes on.

45:00 +3:55 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +1:58

Unfair challenge on Aswad Thomas by Paul Rodgers results in a free kick. Nathan McDonald takes the direct free kick.

45:00 +1:01

The assistant referee signals for offside against Sean Marks. Free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

43:31

Sam Foley provided the assist for the goal.

43:31 Goal scored

Goal - Gary Warren - Newport Co 2 - 3 Braintree Gary Warren finds the net with a headed goal from close range. Newport County 2-3 Braintree Town.

42:51

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Sam Foley,

41:02

Unfair challenge on Lee Baker by Britt Assombalonga results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

37:10

Pat O'Connor takes a shot. Save by Glyn Thompson.

34:37 Goal scored

Goal - Ben Wright - Newport Co 1 - 3 Braintree A goal is scored by Ben Wright from just inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Newport County 1-3 Braintree Town.

33:01

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matthew Paine by Sam Foley. Nathan McDonald restarts play with the free kick. Unfair challenge on Sam Foley by Brad Quinton results in a free kick. Lee Baker takes the free kick.

31:51 Goal scored

Goal - Sean Marks - Newport Co 1 - 2 Braintree Sean Marks finds the back of the net with a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Newport County 1-2 Braintree Town.

28:10 Goal scored

Goal - Sam Foley - Newport Co 1 - 1 Braintree A goal is scored by Sam Foley from just outside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Newport County 1-1 Braintree Town.

27:11 Booking

Booking Booking for Matthew Paine for unsporting behaviour.

26:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Nathaniel Jarvis by Matthew Paine. Sam Foley takes the direct free kick.

24:16

Free kick crossed right-footed by Max Porter from right channel, Nathaniel Jarvis manages to make a clearance.

24:16 Booking

Booking Jai Reason is booked.

21:17

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Pipe by Jai Reason.

21:17 Goal scored

Goal - Britt Assombalonga - Newport Co 0 - 1 Braintree Britt Assombalonga fires in a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Newport County 0-1 Braintree Town.

19:46

Britt Assombalonga takes a shot. Blocked by Sam Foley. Corner taken by Ben Wright from the left by-line played to the near post,

18:43

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Ben Wright played to the near post, clearance by Max Porter.

15:06

Britt Assombalonga fouled by Lee Baker, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Brad Quinton.

14:19

Shot on goal by Sean Marks from just inside the area goes over the target.

13:25

Jai Reason takes a shot. Save by Glyn Thompson.

12:10

Corner taken by Andy Sandell.

10:29

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sean Marks by Lee Baker. Direct free kick taken by Pat O'Connor.

9:42

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Sandell by Sean Marks. Free kick crossed right-footed by David Pipe, clearance by Ben Wright.

7:33 Dismissal

Dismissal The referee shows Lee Minshull a red card for serious foul play.

6:56

Unfair challenge on Brad Quinton by Lee Minshull results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Dean Wells.

5:23

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Minshull by Nicky Symons. Lee Baker restarts play with the free kick.

3:44

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Andy Sandell, clearance by Matthew Paine.

2:54

Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee Minshull on Matthew Paine. Nathan McDonald takes the free kick.

2:54

Lee Minshull gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matthew Paine. Nathan McDonald takes the direct free kick.

1:01

Sean Marks challenges Ismail Yakubu unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

0:00

The match has kicked off.

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