Newport 1 – 1 Brentford

Brentford avoided becoming Newport’s latest cup victim as they won 3-0 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade.

Adam Lewis hit a post with Newport’s first try, before Nathan Wood and Bryn Morris saw theirs saved by Bees debutant Ellery Balcombe and Keane Lewis-Potter settled the contest in favor of the Premier League side .

Mathias Jensen thought he had won in the 88th minute, but the teenager Kiban Rai headed in added time to bring the equalizer to point kicks.

The Welsh side have claimed stunning victories over Leeds, Leicester, Middlesbrough, Swansea, Watford and Luton in the last five years, but were denied another scalp when Brentford avoided a repeat of last year’s penalty shootout defeat to Gillingham.

Exiles boss Graham Coughlan made five changes from Saturday’s 3-1 home win over Sutton.

Jonny Maxted made his debut in goal, while Josh Seberry came into the back line, Matty Bondswell and James Waite were drafted into midfield and Omar Bogle, back to form, started up front.

Brentford made nine changes, with Vitaly Janelt and striker Kevin Schade the only survivors from the weekend’s draw against Crystal Palace.

Thomas Frank debuted goalkeeper Balcombe, Ukrainian midfielder Yehor Yarmoliuk and teenage striker Michael Olakigbe.

The first chance came after 18 minutes when the visitors recycled a corner and Lewis-Potter’s header sailed past Maxted, but Harry Charsley was in just the right place to clear the danger under his own crossbar.

Kristoffer Ajer then saw a lateral shot from 25 meters comfortably saved by Maxted two minutes later, before Schade’s ferocious shot from the edge of the box was deflected wide.

That was one of eight corners Brentford won in the first half but, despite enjoying 76 per cent possession, they were unable to score the early goal.

The home team could have opened the scoring on 34 minutes when Aaron Wildig and Bogle connected well down the left flank and the forward made a clever cross to spot Charsley, who headed just wide of Balcombe’s right post.

The lively Olakigbe came closest in the early stages of the second half with a great effort just over the angle of the post and crossbar.

But Frank had seen enough after an hour and introduced the experienced trio Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa and Jensen.

Mbeumo forced Maxted into a smart save almost immediately.

Jensen made the visitors’ pressure show two minutes from the end of normal time when he struck from close range after Lewis-Potter clipped Mbeumo’s cross.

But County refused to stand still and a header from Rai in added time ensured the equalizer went down to the wire.