Two first-half goals for the Exiles saw them take the advantage into the break, before Bryant Bilongo was sent off midway through the second period.
Ian Watson’s men rallied but couldn’t find a route back into the game, with the hosts adding a third in added time to seal the win.
Head Coach Watson made one change to his starting line-up from last weekend’s Carabao Cup tie at Bradford City, as Dajaune Brown made his first start for the club, alongside Mani Dieseruvwe. Zain Silcott-Duberry moved to the bench, with Devante Rodney starting off the left. Ex-Dale loanee Dan Sassi was amongst the Newport substitutes.
The hosts, in front of their lively supporters, put early pressure on Dale from a number of set-piece and long throw situations.
Nils Ramming held Lee Jenkins’ downward header, which was the first effort on goal of the game after 17 minutes, but the Dale stopper was beaten just a minute later.
Another Newport corner was partially cleared by the Dale defence, but headed back into the area, where Kyle Cameron stole in to prod home from close range.
Tobi Adebayo-Rowling sent a sliced effort harmlessly off target, before Ramming produced a fine save, diving to his left to divert Christian Doidge’s goalbound header wide.
Luke Hannant saw a free-kick tipped over by Newport stopper Jordan Wright, whilst Ethan Ebanks-Landell headed Sam Sherring’s diagonal harmlessly wide.
Ramming made a fingertip save from Ciaran Brennan’s long-range effort, but he was beaten for a second time seven minutes before the break, when Shaquille Gwengwe nipped in at the near post to head a cross from the right home.
The momentum changed after the interval, with Dale controlling the vast majority of possession and getting into more advanced positions, although only Rodney’s two blocked efforts were to show for it before Watson’s side were reduced to ten men.
Bilongo, who had picked up a booking in the first-half, was issued a second yellow midway through the second period for a late challenge in front of the dugout area.
There was a triple substitution in response to the sending off, including a debut for Baba Adeeko in midfield. Another of the substitutes, Kaiden Wilson, slid a through ball into the path of Brown, who jinked past a defender, but couldn’t get a shot away at the vital moment.
Newport added a third through Yayha Bamba’s strike from just inside the area, as the game entered five minutes of added time, which sealed a first opening day in three seasons for Dale.
Newport County XI | Wright, Evans, Davies, Cameron ©, Jenkins, Brennan, Gwengwe (79’ Garner), Biggins, Bamba, Norman, Doidge (65’ Merritt).
Unused subs | MacDonald, Smith, Alexander-Walker, Sassi, Jarvis.
Scorers | 18’ Cameron, 38’ Gwengwe, 90+1’ Bamba.
Dale XI | Ramming, East (70’ Adeeko), Ebanks-Landell ©, Gilmour (70’ Francis), Dieseruvwe (70’ Wilson), Rodney, Adebayo-Rowling, Hannant (62’ Silcott-Duberry), Sherring, Bilongo, Brown.
Unused subs | Spaven, Waller, Moss.
