Newport County’s hopes of survival suffered a big blow as they fell to a disappointing defeat to fellow strugglers Leyton Orient at Rodney Parade – on manager Graham Westley’s 49th birthday.
The Exiles started well but two quick-fire goals from teenagers Steven Alzate and Josh Koroma fired the visitors into an early 2-0 lead. Alzate, on his first O’s start, tapped in at the far post after good work from winger Koroma before the wide man got himself on the scoresheet after beating the offside trap and slotting the ball past Joe Day.
Marlon Jackson and Dan Butler both went close before Koroma added a third on the stroke of half time. Another one of Orient’s youngsters, Sam Dalby, broke through the County defence before squaring the ball to Koroma for a tap-in.
Koroma almost claimed his hat-trick early in the second half but instead got a yellow card for simulation with Day clearing the danger just in time.
But the 18-year-old didn’t have to wait long to claim the match ball as he fired in a penalty just after the hour mark, after Alzate was bundled to the ground by Mark O’Brien, to secure his hat-trick and cap a memorable performance.
The defeat leaves County 11 points from safety with 12 games to play.
Newport County: J Day; S Nelson (S Rigg 46), M O’Brien, D Jones (J Labadie 46), M Demetriou; A Samuel, M Rose, S Bennett (capt), A Samuel; M Jackson (A Williams 64), R Bird.
Subs not used: J Bittner, P Bignot, T Owen-Evans, C Reid.
