NEWPORT came into their Hampshire Senior Cup clash against Aldershot Town as the clear underdogs, knowing that nothing short of a perfect performance would see them produce a cup upset.

NEWPORT 1, ALDERSHOT TOWN 7

The Shots, who ply their trade in the National League — step five in the English football pyramid and step one of non-league — travelled to Beatrice Avenue in East Cowes for this evening's (Tuesday, September 17) cup fixture.

Port, meanwhile, are two points outside the play-off positions early in their Wessex League Division 1 season — step six in the National League system — in eighth place.

(Image: County Press) (Image: County Press) The Islanders beat Millbrook 3-2 earlier this month to progress into this second round.

The visitors got off to a great start, finding the net within ten minutes. 

A quick passage of play up the field and into the Port box, was cleared as far as Haydon Vaughan on the edge of the box, who sold his man a dummy, then took a moment to compose himself, before tucking it away past Port keeper Leon Pitman.

Aldershot skipper Aaron Jones doubled the lead for the visitors in the 37th minute — a smart finish into the bottom corner after racing into the box down the right.

Vaughan had another chance in the 44th minute.

After receiving the ball from a throw-in, he cut inside and had another pop from outside the box, with pace, with Pitman producing a fantastic diving save, when the ball looked destined for the top right corner.

Three minutes into the second half, Vaughan, an ever-present threat on the edge of Port's box, netted his second with a powerful half volley.

In the 51st, Vaughan scored his hat-trick — turning his man in the box and slotting it past Pitman.

(Image: County Press)

Port's collapse continued just moments later, as Aldershot's Maxwell Mullins broke free of the back line to get in on the scoring, before netting again in the 72nd minute.

From the kick-off, Port won a free-kick on the right-hand edge of the visitor's box, which was beautifully chipped in and headed home for a consolation goal by substitute, Henry West.

On the stroke of 90 minutes, Aldershot put any chance of an incredibly speculative Port comeback to bed, as Mark Holley got in on the action to make it seven.

Aldershot Town progress through to the third round of the Hampshire Senior Cup, sending their handful of fans back across The Solent with another cup tie to look forward to.