Newport County 3, Hartlepool United 1
Suddenly there is hope for the Exiles.
The despair Newport County felt after eight successive League Two defeats has been replaced by genuine belief they can still avoid relegation out of the Football League.
Manager Graham Westley knows there is a lot of hard work ahead. His team remain bottom of the table – and they face a crunch clash with fellow strugglers Cheltenham Town away on Saturday.
But he has a group of players prepared to battle for the cause and give everything they have for each other.
Former Cardiff City manager Dave Jones was in charge of Hartlepool, but his team were outplayed and outbattled on that awful Rodney Parade playing surface.
Newport, wearing their all-white change strip, have now earned five points from their last three fixtures and manager Graham Westley says: “We are unbeaten in three and played football more akin to a top of the table team than one in our position.”
David Pipe, playing at wing-back, was an inspiration for Newport, urging his team-mates on through sheer endeavour as he powered up and down the right.
He shouted encouragement, urged those around him to give even more and was Newport’s most influential player.
Ryan Bird, a big, strong centre-forward, marked his Newport debut with County’s first goal and proved a 90-minute nuisance to Hartlepool, who simply could not contain him.
Westley has also added midfield player Mitchell Rose, the brother of Spurs and England defender Danny, and he looks the sort of creative player who will shine on a better pitch.
Newport left out playmaker Josh Sheehan, who was among the substitutes, but he will be back to form a creative partnership with Rose. It would be good to see that happen at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Goals from Bird, Aaron Williams and Dan Butler, who smashed home a volley, earned Newport their first win since mid-November.
Not even an injury time consolation for Hartlepool, scored by substitute Padraig Amond, could spoil Newport’s day.
They are now three points behind Cheltenham and have an opportunity to close that at Whaddon Road this Saturday.
Newport made two changes to their starting line-up with Bird in for Sheehan and Rose taking over from the out-of-favour Mark Randall.
Rose played alongside captain Scott Bennett in midfield, while Darren Jones operated between Sid Nelson and Mark O’Brien in the three-man central defensive system.
Bird headed County ahead from a Craig Reid corner after 15 minutes and Pools simply could not cope with the playing conditions. They failed to adapt to the playing surface and Newport dominated after a nervous first 10 minutes.
Williams made it 2-0 after 56 minutes, again following a Reid corner, before Butler smashed a volley into the top corner after 71 minutes.
It was a pity goalkeeper Joe Day did not finish with a clean sheet, but he won’t worry too much about that late Amond goal on this occasion.
County: Day; Nelson, Jones (Demetriou 82), O’Brien; Pipe, Bennett, Rose (Flynn 78), Butler; Reid, Bird, Williams (Samuel 85)
Subs not used: Bittner, Sheehan, Rigg, Bojaj
Referee: Kevin Johnson
Attendance: 2,271 (103 away).
