SkyBet League Two

Forest Green 0

Newport County 4

FOREST GREEN delivered a Halloween horror show to slip back into the relegation places.

Padraig Amond fired Newport into the League Two play-off places as they blitzed struggling Forest Green in a 4-0 win at the New Lawn.

The striker bagged a first-half brace to put the Welsh side in control at the break before defender Scot Bennett and on loan Bristol City striker Shaun McCoulsky completed a routine victory.

Rovers have now lost nine of their thirteen league matches with just one victory to their name.

Earlier, boss Makr Cooper has made one change to the team held at Notts County.

Midfield playmaker Reece Brown returned after a bout of flu to take the place of Omar Bugiel, who scored Rovers' goal in the 1-1 at Notts. Goalkeeper Brad Collins missed out due to a knock, but Toni Gomes (thigh) made his comeback from the bench.

Newport included former Forest Green captain David Pipe in their side.

Rovers started on the front foot – bossing possession, but they pressed the self-destruct button once again.

Cooper had demanded his side needed to cut out individual errors and Lee Collins’ sliced clearance led to County taking a 15th minute lead. Matt Dolan's corner was headed back across goal by Scot Bennett and Padraig Amond nodded in for his fifth goal of the season.

The Welshmen had their tails up and only a wonder save from Mickey Demetriou thumping header denied a second on 22 minutes. Porous defending allowed Amond to grab his second in the dying embers of the half. Frank Nouble picked up a Demetriou punt and rolled Mark Roberts too easily on the edge of the box to allow Amond a simple 41st minute tap in.

Rovers had to wait until the 43rd minute for their first eye on goal – Newport-born Christian Doidge planting his header wide.

Deep into stoppage-time, Dan Wishart drove forward and his cross was clawed away under the bar from County keeper Joe Day.

Cooper had seen enough and reshuffled his pack. Keanu Marsh-Brown and Will Randall coming on at the break for Reece Brown and Luke James.

Rovers looked for a way back into the game, but it was Newport who should have put the game to bed on 53 minutes. Amond directed a free header wide when scoring would have been an easier option to claim a hat-trick.

Rovers huffed and puffed – Marsh-Brown fizzing wide. Cooper rolled his last throw of the dice on 65 minutes, bringing Bugiel on for Charlie Cooper.

However, Newport made certain of the points  on 78 minutes – Scott Bennett smashing home from close range and the substitute Shawn McCoulsky added a headed fourth on 86 minutes, his first touch of the ball.

Forest Green: (4-4-2) Russell; Bennett, Roberts, Collins, Wishart; Traroe, Cooper (Bugiel 65), Osbourne, Brown (Marsh-Brown 46); James (Randall 46), Doidge

Subs not used: Gomes, Laird, Fitzwater, Iacovitti

Star Man: Lee Collins

Newport County: Day; Demetriou, Bennett, White; Butler, Tozer, Dolan, Pipe (O’Brien, 77); Labadie (Owen-Evans, 88); Nouble (McCoulsky, 81), Amond

Subs not used: Barnum-Bobb, Rigg, Reynolds, Quigley

Booked: Bennett, Labadie

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Attendance: 2,864 (815 County)