NEWPORT County AFC are just two wins from Wembley after cruising into the quarter-finals of the Leasing.com Trophy with a morale-boosting win over MK Dons.

Only 665 home fans turned up on a miserable night at Rodney Parade and those who stayed away missed a treat as County finally found their shooting boots to outclass their League One opponents.

First-half strikes from Tristan Abrahams and Padraig Amond an own goal from Matthew Sorinola settled the tie after just 35 minutes as manager Michael Flynn was rewarded for naming a stronger than expected team.

There were only four changes from Saturday’s FA Cup defeat at Millwall with goalkeeper Nick Townsend, defender Ryan Inniss and midfielders Dom Jefferies and Matty Dolan replacing Tom King, Mickey Demetriou, Joss Labadie and Jamille Matt.

The visitors made seven changes with Exiles academy graduate Regan Poole in their starting XI and former County loan stars Alex Gilbey and Rhys Healey on the bench.

And, while they made a slow start, Flynn’s men raced out of the blocks to take the lead in the fourth minute.

Josh Sheehan’s corner was only half cleared and George Nurse returned the ball to him on the left.

Sheehan’s second cross picked out Inniss at the far post and the centre-back’s header was diverted onto the bar before Abrahams tapped in the rebound for his 10th goal of the season.

It was the perfect start for the hosts but the Dons responded well and began to knock the ball about nicely on the less than perfect Rodney Parade surface.

Sheehan was booked for a foul on the left touchline and Townsend had to be alert to smother the danger as Sam Nombe almost got on the end of Baily Cargill’s flick-on from Ben Reeves’ free-kick.

David Kasumu then tried his luck from distance but his shot was straight at Townsend, who gathered comfortably.

The visitors were growing in confidence and looked capable of turning the match around, but Amond had other ideas.

The striker took control when Ryan Haynes was fouled on the edge of the area, pulling rank over Dolan and smashing the free-kick into the top corner of Stuart Moore’s goal to double County’s advantage on 25 minutes.

There was no doubt over who scored that one, but the third goal was less clear-cut.

Amond’s flicked header from a corner appeared to hit Abrahams and defender Soriniola before creeping over the line.

Amond will no doubt claim it, but it will officially go down as a Sorinola own goal.

Whoever was ultimately responsible, the goal put the Exiles in complete command of the contest 10 minutes before the break.

The Dons looked demoralised and it could have got worse for them before the interval with Amond going close again, Inniss and Abrahams heading wide and Scot Bennett failing to hit the target with the goal gaping.

South Wales Argus:

Amond had another golden opportunity 10 minutes into the second half, racing clear after a mistake by Cargill but shooting straight at Moore.

Poole saw a goal-bound effort blocked by Bennett at the other end, before Healey and Gilbey were introduced in place of Jordan Houghton and Hiram Boateng.

Flynn reshuffled with Dominic Poleon replacing Bennett and Kyle Howkins returning from injury in place of Mark O’Brien, to a loud cheer from the Bisley stand, before The visitors put in an improved second-half performance and they forced County into defending deeper than they would have liked.

Healey fired wide from distance with almost his first touch and Poole almost found the top corner from the edge of the area before a Gilbey piledriver just cleared the bar.

But all the damage had been done in the first half and the hosts defended solidly enough to seal a thoroughly deserved victory.

County: Townsend; Inniss, O’Brien (Howkins, 75), Haynes; Jefferies (Collins, 84), Sheehan, Bennett (Poleon, 70), Dolan, Nurse; Amond, Abrahams

Subs not used: King, Woodiwiss, Labadie, Matt

Booked: Sheehan, Dolan

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 767 (102 MK Dons)

Argus star man: Amond