Newport County got the new season off to a flying start with a win at promotion hopefuls Mansfield Town.

Ismail Yakubu headed in Andy Sandell's free-kick to put County in front, then Tony James fired home a half-volley.

Jake Speight and former County player Matt Green drew Town level but a stooping header by Newport forward Aaron O'Connor restored the lead.

Jefferson Louis made it 4-2 from Danny Crow's cross before Speight headed his second and Stags' third goal late on.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"They were schoolboy errors. I don't think Newport have had to work hard to score goals against us, which is very untypical of my sides.

"It happened and we have to take it on the chin but I am not happy at all.

"I just think it was a lack of discipline. We conceded goals that were uncharacteristic of us."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Mansfield Town

  • 01 Marriott
  • 05 Jones
  • 06 Pilkington
  • 15 Owens
  • 17 Beevers Booked
  • 20 Tolley (Wright - 67' )
  • 13 Howell
  • 18 Roberts
  • 07 Meikle
  • 09 Dyer (Speight - 30' Booked )
  • 10 Green

Substitutes

  • 03 Thompson
  • 14 Clements
  • 31 Daniel
  • 08 Speight
  • 12 Wright

Newport County

  • 40 Pidgeley
  • 05 James
  • 06 Yakubu
  • 02 Pipe
  • 04 Porter
  • 13 Sandell
  • 14 Thomson
  • 16 Lee Evans (Hughes - 85' )
  • 07 O'Connor (Charles - 69' )
  • 09 Crow (Minshull - 68' )
  • 10 Louis

Substitutes

  • 22 Perry
  • 03 Hughes
  • 08 Minshull
  • 15 Harris
  • 11 Charles
Ref: Kavanagh
Att: 2,924

Match Stats

Shots

15 3

On target

7 1

Corners

8 4

Fouls

11 8

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:36

Anthony Howell is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Lenny Pidgeley restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +2:27 Full time

Full Time The match has reached full-time.

90:00 +2:26

Lindon Meikle fouled by Andrew Hughes, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed by Gary Roberts, clearance made by David Pipe.

90:00 +0:57

Corner taken by Gary Roberts, Luke Jones has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide left of the target.

90:00 +0:39

Corner from the right by-line taken by Gary Roberts, Ismail Yakubu makes a clearance.

90:00 +0:05

Corner taken right-footed by Gary Roberts, clearance by Ismail Yakubu.

89:37

The referee blows for offside against Jefferson Louis. Lee Beevers takes the free kick.

88:39

Assist on the goal came from Matt Green.

88:39 Goal scored

Goal - Jake Speight - Mansfield 3 - 4 Newport Co Jake Speight finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Mansfield 3-4 Newport County.

82:12

The ball is crossed by David Pipe, blocked by Andy Owens.

84:12 Substitution

Substitution Lee Evans leaves the field to be replaced by Andrew Hughes.

83:00

Effort from outside the penalty box by Lee Evans goes wide left of the target.

82:30

Corner taken left-footed by Andy Sandell to the near post, clearance by Andy Owens.

82:12

Centre by David Pipe, Anthony Howell gets a block in.

81:20

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ryan Charles by Gary Roberts. Tony James restarts play with the free kick.

80:49

The assistant referee flags for offside against Ryan Charles. Alan Marriott takes the free kick.

80:08

The ball is sent over by Ryan Charles, Andy Owens gets a block in.

76:12

Matt Green takes a short corner.

75:04

Lee Beevers delivers the ball, Tony James gets a block in.

74:27

Nick Wright takes a shot. Save by Lenny Pidgeley.

73:32

Gary Roberts has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.

73:18

The ball is delivered by Andy Owens, Ismail Yakubu makes a clearance.

72:48

Nick Wright takes a shot. Ismail Yakubu makes a clearance.

71:51

Corner from the right by-line taken by Gary Roberts, Jefferson Louis makes a clearance.

71:27

Gary Roberts takes a shot from just outside the penalty area which clears the crossbar.

70:32

A cross is delivered by David Pipe.

68:56 Substitution

Substitution Aaron O'Connor leaves the field to be replaced by Ryan Charles.

67:25 Substitution

Substitution Lee Minshull replaces Danny Crow.

66:33 Substitution

Substitution Nick Wright is brought on as a substitute for James Tolley.

65:21

Danny Crow provided the assist for the goal.

65:21 Goal scored

Goal - Jefferson Louis - Mansfield 2 - 4 Newport Co Jefferson Louis fires in a goal from inside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Mansfield 2-4 Newport County.

65:21

Danny Crow sends in a cross,

64:30

Lindon Meikle gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jefferson Louis. Free kick taken by Ismail Yakubu.

62:20

Lee Beevers crosses the ball.

59:30

Inswinging corner taken by Andy Sandell.

58:13

Unfair challenge on Lenny Pidgeley by Luke Jones results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

56:49

Foul by Matt Green on Lee Evans, free kick awarded. Andy Sandell takes the free kick.

55:07

Assist on the goal came from Jake Thomson.

55:07 Goal scored

Goal - Aaron O'Connor - Mansfield 2 - 3 Newport Co Aaron O'Connor finds the net with a headed goal from inside the area. Mansfield 2-3 Newport County.

54:19

Free kick crossed right-footed by Jake Thomson,

54:19 Booking

Booking Booking for Lee Beevers.

54:09

Lee Beevers gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Crow.

52:48

Lindon Meikle delivers the ball, Tony James manages to make a clearance.

52:28

Lindon Meikle sends in a cross, clearance made by Max Porter.

49:48

Assist on the goal came from Lee Beevers.

49:48 Goal scored

Goal - Matt Green - Mansfield 2 - 2 Newport Co Matt Green finds the back of the net with a goal from the edge of the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Mansfield 2-2 Newport County.

49:22

A cross is delivered by Lindon Meikle.

48:46

Free kick awarded for a foul by Jefferson Louis on George Pilkington. Free kick taken by Alan Marriott.

47:23 Goal scored

Goal - Jake Speight - Mansfield 1 - 2 Newport Co Jake Speight scores a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Mansfield 1-2 Newport County.

46:47

James Tolley takes a shot. Save made by Lenny Pidgeley.

45:16

Lindon Meikle produces a cross, clearance made by Ismail Yakubu.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +5:02 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +3:59

The referee blows for offside against Matt Green. Lenny Pidgeley restarts play with the free kick.

45:00 +2:59

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Roberts by Max Porter. Lee Beevers restarts play with the free kick.

45:00 +2:14

Free kick awarded for a foul by Anthony Howell on Aaron O'Connor. Indirect free kick taken by Lee Evans.

45:00 +1:03

Shot from 18 yards from Jake Speight. Save by Lenny Pidgeley.

45:00 +0:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Crow on Lindon Meikle. Lee Beevers restarts play with the free kick.

42:33

Jake Thomson concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Roberts. James Tolley crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from right channel.

42:05

Matt Green gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tony James. Free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

40:54 Booking

Booking Booking for Jake Speight for dissent.

36:50

George Pilkington challenges Aaron O'Connor unfairly and gives away a free kick. Andy Sandell takes the free kick.

34:54

The ball is crossed by Lee Beevers.

32:58

Effort on goal by Anthony Howell from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

30:52

Foul by Jefferson Louis on Luke Jones, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Alan Marriott.

29:20 Substitution

Substitution Jake Speight replaces Ross Dyer.

24:06

Shot from outside the box by Matt Green misses to the left of the target.

22:46

Corner taken by James Tolley, save made by Lenny Pidgeley.

21:28

Andy Owens takes a shot. Ismail Yakubu gets a block in.

20:57

Centre by Andy Owens, Lee Evans makes a clearance.

20:08

Ismail Yakubu concedes a free kick for a foul on Matt Green. Free kick crossed right-footed by James Tolley from right channel, Tony James manages to make a clearance.

19:26

Andy Sandell produces a cross.

17:56

James Tolley gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Aaron O'Connor. Direct free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

16:20

The ball is delivered by Max Porter.

14:45

Andy Sandell delivers the ball, save made by Alan Marriott.

12:37 Goal scored

Goal - Tony James - Mansfield 0 - 2 Newport Co A goal is scored by Tony James from just outside the penalty area to the top left corner of the goal. Mansfield 0-2 Newport County.

12:01

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Jake Thomson, clearance made by Lee Beevers.

11:20

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jake Thomson played to the near post, Lee Beevers makes a clearance.

10:57

Jefferson Louis takes a shot. Blocked by George Pilkington.

10:37

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Sandell by Ross Dyer. Lenny Pidgeley takes the direct free kick.

9:17

Assist on the goal came from Andy Sandell.

9:17 Goal scored

Goal - Ismail Yakubu - Mansfield 0 - 1 Newport Co Ismail Yakubu finds the net with a headed goal from close in. Mansfield 0-1 Newport County.

8:56

James Tolley challenges Danny Crow unfairly and gives away a free kick. Andy Sandell delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing,

8:11

The referee blows for offside. Alan Marriott takes the free kick.

5:47

Corner taken by James Tolley from the right by-line, Luke Jones produces a header from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.

5:26

Gary Roberts produces a cross, Jake Thomson gets a block in.

5:01

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by James Tolley, clearance made by Lenny Pidgeley.

4:00

Effort from outside the penalty area by Lindon Meikle goes wide left of the goal.

3:23

Gary Roberts delivers the ball.

2:34

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ismail Yakubu on Matt Green. Free kick crossed right-footed by James Tolley.

2:03

The official flags Matt Green offside. Direct free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

0:57

Danny Crow produces a cross, clearance by Ross Dyer.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association