County were forced to ring the changes. Shane Bewer replaced the injured Steve Jenkins, and Lee Collier the suspended Nathan Davies. Craig Hughes replaced Matt Green as a tactical change, and Jason Bowen replaced Sam O'Sullivan, as County fielded their strongest and most experienced available starting eleven.     

The match was in doubt until an hour before the scheduled kick off time and both sides had to combat the stormy conditions as well as the opposition in a keenly fought first period.

The Seagulls had the better of the early chances and Marvin Brown should have given the visitors an early lead but shot straight into the arms of Mark Ovendale from ten yards after a jinking run from the livewire Ryan Harley had opened up the home defence. County eventually found their shooting boots and midfielder Lee Jenkins tested Ryan Northmore with a low drive which skidded into his hands off the wet surface. Striker Julian Alsop turned provider and only a late interception from Marry McConnal prevented Jason Bowen from opening the scoring from his enticing cross to the far post.

It was burly striker Alsop who scored the opening and only goal of the match on 32 minutes. Craig Hughes seemed to lose control of the ball when turning his marker and shaping to shot, but his persistence ensured he beat the out-rushing Northmore to the loose ball to set up strike partner Julian Alsop who tapped in from two yards with the simplest of finishes. Seagulls’ striker Gareth Hopkins contrived to somehow hook the ball over from underneath the bar in the final minute of the half, only minutes after the crowd were astounded by referee Simon Parish’s reluctance to show aggressor Marc McGregor a straight red card for a blatant leading elbow on Lee Jenkins.

The second half was a drab stalemate in which Weston continued to have the upper hand and pressed hard for an equaliser. Former Exile Scott Walker struck successive shots at Ovendale but the home defence stood firm under pressure. Alsop thought he had made the game safe with a diving header from Hughes’ cross five minutes after the restart, only to see the assistant referee raise his flag for a contested offside decision. The home crowd were entitled to make derisory remarks at the performance of the officials who were poor and made mistake after mistake.     

County will gladly take all three points and will not be too concerned that they won by the odd goal and at times struggled to contain a typically robust Seagulls' side. County must now consolidate away at Dorchester on New Year's Day and then seek to overcome league leaders Histon next Saturday at Newport Stadium.  

Line Ups:

Newport: Ovendale, Edwards, Brewer, Collier, Brough (C), Hillier, Bowen, L Jenkins (Garner 78), Alsop, Hughes, Evans Subs Not Used: Green, O’Sullivan, Hearne, Giles

Weston: Northmore, Rand, Turnes (Walker 65), Jarman (C), Robertson, Loxton, McConnal, McGregor, Hopkins, Brown, Harley Subs Not Used: Walker, Rose, Bunyard, Hudson, Kilgour