Manager Michael Flynn was ‘thrilled’ with the win his Newport County team achieved at Yeovil Town on Saturday.
Josh Sheehan and Paul Hayes, with his fourth goal in two fixtures, scored the goals in a 2-0 League Two win.
This was a first win since January for the Exiles, but they are only five points outside the play-offs.
A key factor is that Newport have seven of their last 10 matches at their Rodney Parade home.
Flynn’s reaction after the win at Yeovil was: “We are thrilled. It has been a long time coming and we should have won our previous two matches.
“We won’t take it easy until the end of the season. There is a lot to look forward to. We have closed the gap a little, but that is all we have done.
“We played better football today, but we could have tried to shut the game up and we did not do that.”
Sheehan fired Newport ahead after 53 minutes. Robbie Willmott played a cutting pass into Ben White’s path on the right and the 20-year old provided the perfect delivery for Sheehan to burst into the area and curl his chance into the far corner from eight yards.
The second came with seconds remaining in the match when Hayes fired home from 10 yards after County launched a counter-attack.
Flynn made two changes to the side that drew 3-3 against Forest Green Rovers at Rodney Parade in midweek. David Pipe and Mark O’Brien missed out through injuries.
Captain Joss Labadie was back after a two-match suspension, while Josh Sheehan returned to the team.
Despite the incoming County players not specifically being defenders, the Exiles remained in their 3-5-2 formation from the off at Huish Park. Robbie Willmott dropped back to right wing-back in place of Pipe, while Ben Tozer filled in at centre-back for O’Brien.
Scot Bennett made a surprise appearance on the bench for the Exiles after recovering ahead of schedule from the hamstring injury suffered at Mansfield Town.
Mickey Demetriou shone for Newport, while Hayes and Padraig Amond linked well in attack.
Now County turn to the first of their remaining seven hime fixtures, against second-placed Luton Town on Saturday. A win in that game could really signal their arrival back in the chase for promotion.
Newport County: Day, Butler, Demetriou, Tozer, White, Willmott (Collins 84), Dolan (Bennett 80), Labadie (capt), Sheehan, Amond (Nouble 56), Hayes. Subs not used: Bittner, Jackson, McCoulsky, Reid
Yeovil Town: Maddison, Whelan, Sowunmi, James, Dickson; C Smith, Surridge (Barnes 58), Wing, Green (Browne 70), Zoko (capt), Khan (Fisher 78). Subs not used: Bird, Mugabi, Nelson, Donnellan
Referee: Lee Collins
Attendance: 2,880 (439 away)
Newport’s remaining fixtures:
March
Saturday 17: Newport County v Luton Town (3pm)
Saturday 24: Newport County v Crewe (3pm)
Friday 30: Newport County v Coventry City (3pm)
April
Monday 2: Chesterfield v Newport County (3pm)
Saturday 7: Newport County v Stevenage (3pm)
Saturday 14: Newport County v Yeovil Town (3pm)
Saturday 21: Barnet v Newport County (3pm)
Tuesday 24: Newport County v Accrington Stanley (7.45pm)
Saturday 28: Newport v Cambridge United (3pm)
May
Saturday 5: Carlisle United v Cardiff City (3pm)
