his pack and gave a rest to the injured Jason Bowen. Richard Evans made his first start for the club and Lee Collier replaced Ashley Williams in the centre of midfield. Nathan Blake was destined to make his debut for his home town club in front of a bumper bank holiday crowd.     

 

Hayes belied their lowly position and twice came close to taking an early lead. Orlando Jeffrey back-headed a long Adam Logie throw at the near post, following an earlier Liam Fenny shot, but the safe hands of Mark Ovendale protected the home goal on both occasions. County awoke and had a handful of gilt-edged chances in a goalless first-half. Craig Hughes inexplicably failed to connect with Sam O'Sullivan's cross shot and it was O'Sullivan who then headed narrowly over from Damon Searle's outswinging cross. Searle and new face Richard Evans were doing all the running down the left flank and promised to open up the away defence. Searle had two opportunities to break the deadlock from set pieces. His first direct free kick curled over the cross bar and his second was blocked by a resolute wall. Craig Hughes took up the mantle from Searle and had his double effort cleared off the line from goalkeeper Kevin Davies and a covering defender in the closing minute, before seeing his dipping header from a superb Evans' cross tipped on to the bar by the acrobatic Davies as the half drew to a close.         

 

The match was all but over within six minutes of the restart. Richard Evans outstripped the Hayes defence and crossed low for Craig Hughes to side foot home in the 48th minute, before the unfortunate Marvin Bartley fell on the ball and handled some five minutes later. Ian Hillier calmly slotted the spot kick home. County played a containing game for much of the second half and, despite the industry of a Hayes team who would not lie down, were untroubled until the closing minutes. Hayes made a late surge to recover something from the game. The suddenly busy Mark Ovendale saved from Feeney and Daniel Dyer, the rebound from Dyer's shot being hooked onto the bar by Mark Nicholls. County had taken their foot 'off the gas' but in the knowledge that the three points were 'in the bag'.       

 

County must now overcome a resurgent Bishop's Stortford on Friday night to maintain their league position.

 

Line Ups:

 

Newport: Ovendale, Thomas, Searle, Davies, Brough ©, Hiller, O'Sullivan, Collier (Williams 82), Green (Blake 75), Hughes, Evans Subs Not Used: Alsop, Edwards, Giles

 

Hayes: Davies, Logie, Nuako, Bartley (Knight 75), Jeffrey  ©, Collins, D Dyer, Ashe (Bartley 82), J Dyer (Sparrowhawk 82), Nicholls, Feeney Subs Not Used:  Jinadu, McAuley

 

Goalscorers:

 

County: Hughes (48) and Hillier (51) (penalty) 

 

Cautions:

 

County: Green (retaliation) and Collier (foul)

Hayes: Jeffery (foul)

 

Officials:

 

Referee: Martin Cassidy (Weston Super Mare)

Assistants: Tony Baker (Bromyard) and Mark Russell (Bristol)

 

Man of the Match:

 

Official County Man of the Match: Richard Evans

Reporter’s County Man of the Match: Richard Evans

Reporter's Hayes Man of the Match: Orlando Jeffrey 

 

Attendance: 1092

 

Conditions:

 

Dry, warm and overcast

 

Match Rating:

 

3/5