NEWPORT County AFC were brought down to earth with a bump by Bromley in League Two after failing their trial by air in a 5-2 defeat.

The Exiles headed to Hayes Lane looking to build on their stunning 6-3 win at Rodney Parade against Milton Keynes Dons.

They produced a swashbuckling performance to beat the promotion hopefuls who play an expansive style but fell to defeat in south London against a side flourishing thanks to doing the nuts and bolts so well.

County had more of the ball in the first half yet Bromley deservedly led 2-0 thanks to headers from corners by defenders Omar Sowunwi and Callum Reynolds.

Goalkeeping coach Rob Thomas is responsible for set plays and he would have been livid when the third came from the same department in the 53rd minute, Michael Cheek heading in from close range as the marking left an awful lot to be desired.

It was 4-0 after 70 minutes after Jude Arthurs headed in from close range with Kieron Evans swiftly scoring a consolation with a lovely finish to make it 4-1.

Substitute Kai Whitmore then made things interesting with a second but the only late drama came at the other end when Ben Thompson curled in a tremendous free-kick in added time.

Despite the late push, the Exiles never looked like getting another hard-earned point on the road after commendable efforts against Notts County, AFC Wimbledon and Colchester.

The home victory made it ten games unbeaten for the Ravens – five wins, five draws – after they earned promotion to the Football League via the play-offs.

Rather than worrying about battling an immediate return, they are dreaming of pushing for the top seven.

Not only that, but the unbeaten run has also earned Andy Woodman’s side a glamour away tie at Newcastle in the third round of the FA Cup.

CHALLENGE: County midfielder Bryn Morris goes up for a header at Bromley (Image: Stephen Lawrence/Huw Evans Agency)

The Exiles, meanwhile, must lick their wounds and get stuck into leaders Walsall on Sunday before January home encounters with AFC Wimbledon and Morecambe.

Expect the Saddlers to put it into the mixer and see whether County are up to the test.

Head coach Nelson Jardim made just one change from the hammering of MK, opting for the more physical Kyle Hudlin instead of Luke Jephcott despite a lively pre-Christmas showing up front.

Forward Oliver Greaves came in for defender Joe Thomas among the substitutes while there was a swap of loan midfielders, Newcastle's Jamie Miley in for Preston's Noah Mawene.

It was a slow start by both sides with County wasting an early opportunity when Hudlin was too keen to poorly be caught offside from a Bobby Kamwa through ball.

The flag was also up to save Shane McLoughlin's blushes in the 10th minute after the captain failed to connect from close range after a mishit Michael Spellman shot.

Bromley's first opening was a well-worked free-kick that ended up with Ben Thompson firing a cross straight at Nick Townsend with 14 minutes gone.

They then went close in the 17th minute when Swansea loanee Cameron Congreve, from Blaenau Gwent, jinked into the box and had a shot deflected narrowly wide.

The young Swan was proving to be a threat while the Exiles were struggling to hold onto the ball once they progressed to the middle and final thirds.

County were lucky to still be on level terms after 25 minutes when McLoughlin had a clearance blocked but centre-back Matt Baker was on the spot to get the clearance in as Michael Cheek and then former Exile Corey Whitely threatened.

However, Bromley's territorial dominance paid off in the 27th minute when a corner was swung in by Congreve and Sowunwi powered in a near-post header.

A corner from the same right flank almost doubled the advantage in the 34th minute but Congreve's inswinger was tipped over by Townsend.

Yet that merely gave away another set play from the other flank that ended with Reynolds heading in from close range after eluding marker Ciaran Brennan.

It was all happening down that end and Sowunwi headed over, thankfully under pressure this time, as half-time approached.

There was still time for a half-chance for the Exiles when Spellman broke down the left but his pull-back - was a zipped ball the better option? - was cut out by the defence.

That was followed by a long-range effort by McLoughlin that was well held by Grant Smith for a comfortable save.

Yet it should have been 3-0 at the break when a Cheek header across the goal was missed by Thompson with his swung left leg from six yards out.

It was Bromley that started the sharper after the restart with Townsend forced into a sharp save with his feet after Danny Imray struck a powerful shot from a tight angle down the right.

A killer blow looked more likely than a lifeline, and it duly came with 53 minutes on the clock.

Another corner was swung in by Thompson, Reynolds headed back in from the far post, Cheek nodded in from close range.

Jardim turned to his bench approaching the hour with Miley and Whitmore coming into midfield and Jephcott getting a chance to break his duck ahead of Walsall.

HOPE: Kai Whitmore made it 4-2 for County in the defeat at Bromley (Image: Stephen Lawrence/Huw Evans Agency)

Yet the fourth (headed) goal of the afternoon came at County’s end in the 70th minute when, seconds after Thompson clattered the bar with a superb strike from distance, the ball was nodded back towards goal for Arthurs to score from close range.

That did prompt a swift response from the hosts with Bobby Kamwa passing to the right wing for Evans to cut in on his left and score with a cunning finish to the near post.

It was 4-2 in the 79th minute when substitute Whitmore sneaked a shot in at the near post, with goalkeeper Smith paying the price for gambling on a cross.

Suddenly it was all County, with the ball popped around with the hope of a third goal to really make it a nervy finale.

However, Bromley managed the closing stages well and then struck at the death with Thompson’s inch-perfect free-kick.

Bromley scorers: Sowunwi, Reynolds, Cheek, Arthurs, Thompson.

County: Townsend, McLoughlin (captain), Brennan, Baker, Glennon, K Evans, Morris (Greaves 76), Kamwa, Antwi (Miley 58), Spellman (Whitmore 58), Hudlin (Jephcott 58).

Substitutes not used: Carney, Clarke, Jameson.

Goals: K Evans.

Referee: Sunny Singh Gill.