A late Argyle comeback saw the Greens clinch a 2-2 draw and take the extra point on penalties against Newport County at Rodney Parade.
Kieron Evans and Yahya Bamba had given the hosts a 2-0 lead, but the late introduction of Bim Pepple saw him get one back before Tyreeq Bakinson levelled in the 90th minute.
Pepple had a chance to win it in normal time, but his penalty was saved by Shaun MacDonald.
Argyle went penalty perfect though, scoring all five, to clinch an extra point and almost certainly secure progression to the next round of The Jersey Mike's Trophy.
The hosts took an early lead in the fourth minute after Kieron Evans picked up the ball on the left-hand side and cut inside onto his right foot before firing a shot from 30 yards into the far corner. It took a slight deflection and looped beyond Jimmy Storer in the Argyle goal.
Tom Cleverley’s side's first chance came from a quick throw from Caleb Watts. He found Tegan Finn who drove to the byline and crossed but the hosts scrambled clear through a combination of their goalkeeper and Joe Thomas.
County then almost doubled their lead through Cole Jarvis. Aaron Lewis hurled in a long throw that was initially cleared by Bakinson, but it was worked back to Lewis who curled into the box and found the head of Jarvis who put it just wide.
Bamba then picked up the ball centrally after a loose Caleb Roberts pass. He drove beyond Roberts and into the area before firing a shot across goal that went just wide of the far post.
After a period of controlled possession for Argyle, without really creating anything, the hosts had another big opportunity. Jarvis slid Evans through, and he could only fire straight at Storer when in on goal. The County captain Matt Smith struck at goal with the rebound, but it went well over.
Argyle just couldn’t get anything going in the first half and the hosts had another great chance to double their lead moments later. Evans was causing Sorinola all sorts of problems on the Newport left. He drove into the area and crossed for Dan Sassi, and he headed just wide under pressure from Jack MacKenzie.
The Greens were back out early for the second half and started much brighter in the second period.
A first real chance of the game came through Finn. He was found with a brilliant Bakinson pass and crossed low for Seb Campbell, but he couldn’t keep his finish down and it went over the crossbar.
That slight momentum was stalled though after a short corner came to Cameron Evans, his heavy touch took him into the box, and he was fouled by Finn.
Bamba stepped up for the penalty and slotted home, but he was ordered to retake by the referee for an infringement. He made no mistake with the retake though, slotting straight down the middle.
Cleverley turned to his bench straight after the second with Oli Irow, Pepple and Wes Harding introduced.
Irow was immediately involved after being found by Bakinson, he drove at his man and dinked to the back post where he found the head of Amaechi, but his header was poor and went well over.
Minutes later, the two combined again after Roberts found Irow on the left with a brilliant cross-field pass. The Spurs loanee drove to the byline and cut back for Amaechi but he couldn’t get a full contact on the finish and MacDonald comfortably saved.
The Greens did get one back with 15 minutes to go. Amaechi picked up the ball and clipped it over the top for Pepple, Sassi slipped, and the Canadian ran through on goal and slotted through MacDonald’s legs.
Immediately from the restart, Amaechi sprayed another ball and found Irow. The wideman skipped inside, beating two men but saw his shot blocked behind. He was then found at the back post but volleyed just wide.
Irow really looked electric following his introduction and he drove forward on the left and cut back for Bradley Ibrahim who controlled and curled for the corner, but it went just wide.
MacDonald then made a brilliant save as Campbell flicked a cross goalwards, but Argyle did get level from the resulting corner. White took it short to Amaechi, and he crossed for Bakinson to slot home.
Argyle had a huge chance to win it. Matty Sorinola found Pepple in the area who was fouled. He stepped up and MacDonald saved well to his left. That was the last of the action in normal time and the game finished level, with penalties to decide who gained the extra point.
Adu-Poku stepped up first for the hosts, but Storer saved low down. White followed for the Greens and spectacularly struck into the top corner, making no mistake.
Harrison Biggins went next for County and slotted down the middle with Storer almost saving with his feet. Irow nonchalantly slotted home next to keep the Greens ahead, but Matty Jacob just beat Storer to bring the hosts level having taken one extra penalty.
Amaechi stepped up next for Argyle and found the top corner. Christian Doidge then brought Hayden Mullins’ side level again.
Pepple rectified his earlier miss slotting into the bottom corner. Lewis stroked down the middle but Ibrahim stepped up to score and clinch Argyle the extra point.
Newport County: 33 Shaun McDonald, 2 Cameron Evans, 7 Kieron Evans (23 Michael Adu-Poku, 78’), 8 Matt Smith, 12 Joe Thomas (5 Lee Jenkins, 46’), 17 Alfie Merritt, 18 Aaron Lewis, 19 Ged Garner (27 Christian Doidge, 82’), 20 Yahya Bamba (10 Harrison Biggins, 84’), 34 Dan Sassi, 40 Cole Jarvis (16 Matty Jacob, 78’). Substitutes: 1 Jordan Wright (GK), 24 Matt Dibley-Dias,
Goals: Evans, 4’, Bamba, 59’
Argyle: 21 James Storer, 2 Mathias Ross (capt) (45 Wes Harding, 60’), 3 Jack MacKenzie, 10 Xavier Amaechi, 17 Caleb Watts (27 Bim Pepple, 60’), 19 Tyreeq Bakinson, 24 Caleb Roberts (23 Bradley Ibrahim, 72’), 26 Tegan Finn (14 Oliver Irow, 60’), 29 Matty Sorinola, 38 Seb Campbell, 42 Jared Rendle (7 Harvey White, 72’). Substitutes: 1 Murphy Cooper, 11 Ronan Curtis
Goals: Pepple, 75’, Bakinson, 90’
Yellow card: Watts, 39’
