Swindon Town U18's produced a superb display to beat Newport County 6-2 in the FA Youth Cup at The Energy Check County Ground this afternoon, despite being reduced to ten men early on.
Sol Pryce and Ollie Rejek both grabbed a brace while Luke Haines and Teo Atik were also on the scoresheet as Town cruised through to the next round of the competition.
The young Reds flew out of the traps quickly and carved out two chances in quick succession with Pryce at the heart of both.
His first opportunity arrived with less than five minutes on the clock as he latched onto a superb pass from Joe Romanski, but his first touch let him down and he was closed down by Webb in the Newport goal.
He went close again seconds later but he was denied by Webb once more, although it proved to be a case of third time lucky as Pryce was able to bundle home the opener with eleven minutes played.
Pryce and Town were well on top and the striker fashioned another opportunity in-front of goal, although his firm drive whistled over the bar.
There was then a set-back for Alan McLoughlin's side to deal with after Jacob Bancroft was shown a straight red card for a rash challenge.
That allowed the visitors to enjoy a spell of pressure with Liam Bishop seeing his effort deflect behind, although the hosts were standing firm.
Archie Matthews was well-placed to stop a tame header from Michael Cook, before Joe Hunt sent a free-kick inches over the bar.
Town responded well to being a man down though and they were doing a good job of keeping their guests at bay.
And they were able to double their advantage shortly before the break thanks to Ollie Rejek, who was picked out by Pryce before slamming home a fine strike via the underside of the crossbar.
Town finished the first-half well on top and they were unlucky not to add to their lead further with Jordan Edwards seeing his strike palmed away by Webb, before the impressive Pryce sent a half-volley just wide.
Newport were able to haul themselves back into the contest shortly after the interval though, with Michael Cook beating Matthews with a powerful header.
And County were soon level as they hit Town with a swift counter-attack, Edwards seeing his shot parried to safety before the ball was worked to Lewis Collins who burst clean through on goal before slotting home.
The second-half was tightly contested with neither team able to really carve out a string of clear-cut chances.
However, Town had a golden opportunity to restore their lead with twenty-minutes left to play, but Rejek could only blast over after being picked out by Pryce with a pull-back.
But the young Reds did get their noses back in-front and it came courtesy of Luke Haines, who powered home a superb header from Edwards' pinpoint free-kick.
And it only got better as Pryce converted from Edwards' cross before Rejek fired in a superb strike for his second of the afternoon.
Town were not finished there either as Teo Atik, who had replaced Pryce only minutes before, bundled home from close-range to wrap up a fine victory and secure his side's place in the Second Round of the FA Youth Cup.
TEAMS AND STATS:
SCORERS - Sol Pryce (11, 82), Ollie Rejek (36,86), Michael Cook (48), Lewis Collins (54), Luke Haines (78), Teo Atik (90).
SWINDON TOWN U18'S - Matthews, Giamattei, Romanski, Rejek, Haines, Graham, White (Rhys Wells 72), Dugan (Harry Stanley 85), Pryce (C) (Teoman Atik 86), Edwards, Bancroft.
SUBS NOT USED - Owens, Blackwell.
NEWPORT COUNTY U18'S - Webb, Williams (Lewis Collins 45), Hunt, Savigar, Murray (Josh Williams 40), Foulston (c), Edwards (Liam Warman 74), Press, Cook, Bishop, Hillman.
SUBS NOT USED - Callum Beckett, Owen Taylor.
BOOKINGS:
TOWN U18'S - Luke Haines.
NEWPORT U18'S - Joe Hunt.
SENDING-OFFS:
TOWN U18'S - Jacob Bancroft
