A BRILLIANT brace from Shawn McCoulsky saw Newport County AFC earn a shock win at Roots Hall to dump League One Southend United out of the Carabao Cup.

The 21-year-old striker is fast becoming a fan-favourite after following his debut stoppage-time equalizer at Stevenage with a match-winning double in the League Cup first round tie.

McCoulsky, on loan from Bristol City, should have had a hat-trick after missing a sitter in the first half but he netted twice in seven minutes after the break to give Michael Flynn’s men a fully deserved victory.

The boss made four changes from the weekend with teenager Ben White and veteran David Pipe coming into the defence, Tom Owen-Evans starting in midfield and McCoulsky leading the line.

Mark O’Brien, Joss Labadie, Sean Rigg and Frank Nouble made way as the Exiles switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation with Scot Bennett playing alongside Matty Dolan in front of the defence.

It was an attacking line-up with Robbie Willmott and Lamar Reynolds getting down the flanks and Owen-Evans supporting McCoulsky from the middle.

And the Exiles took the game to their League One opponents from the off.

It was Dolan who had the first shot on target but his half volley from 20 yards out was comfortably saved by Ted Smith in the Shrimpers goal.

Willmott was delivering tempting crosses from both flanks and he teed up Owen-Evans early on but the young midfielder took an extra touch and his shot was blocked.

The 20-year-old then curled a shot onto the roof of the net from the edge of the area as the visitors continued to create the better chances.

And Flynn’s men should have been ahead on 29 minutes when Willmott’s cross from the right was headed over by McCoulsky from a few yards out.

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At the other end Stephen McLaughlin saw a shot deflected wide but Joe Day was not forced into a proper save until the 36th minute when Simon Cox headed a Theo Robinson cross straight down his throat.

But there was a big let-off two minutes before the break when Stephen Hendrie curled a shot onto the post.

And the Exiles took full advantage of that slice of luck in the second half when that man McCoulsky once again took centre stage.

His first goal on 52 minutes was made by Reynolds who poked the ball around Smith, allowing McCoulsky to outpace Rob Kiernan and roll the ball into an empty net from close range.

And seven minutes later he added his second, and his third in two games.

Willmott found Owen-Evans in the box and the Exiles academy graduate turned his man superbly before crossing for McCoulsky to tap in on the line.

It was no less than the visitors deserved for their adventurous approach.

And the Southend response was minimal. Day held a Ryan Leonard drive from distance but County could have extended their lead on several occasions.

Owen-Evans drilled a shot just wide of the far post and Nouble, who was booed by the home fans, thought he had won a penalty against his former club only for referee Antony Coggins to award a free-kick the other way.

County had lost Bennett at half-time but that was the only negative on a night when youngsters White, Owen-Evans and McCoulsky stood out.

And the performance of the whole team will give Flynn huge encouragement ahead of Saturday’s League Two trip to Crewe Alexandra.

County: Day; Pipe, White, Demetriou, Butler; Bennett (Labadie, 46), Dolan; Willmott, Owen-Evans, Reynolds (Nouble, 67); McCoulsky (Foulston, 90)

Subs not used: Bittner, Jahraldo-Martin, O’Brien, Rigg

Referee: Antony Coggins

Attendance: 2,998 (130 County)

Argus star man: Owen-Evans