Newport County took another stride towards wrapping up the Blue Square South title with a thumping 5-1 victory at Basingstoke Town in midweek.
The Exiles found their form once again and quickly established a lead to which the home side had no response. County were then able to really turn it on to come away with a tremendous win.
It was another wonderful night for Newport who may need only two more victories to win the division.
County opened the scoring after only nine minutes. A Chris Todd cross from the right was headed against the bar by Stuart Douglas. It rebounded to Danny Rose whose first attempt was blocked by the goalkeeper but the ball fell nicely for him to poke home from six yards.
Rose then doubled the lead with a free kick from just outside the penalty area. He bent a left-footed effort around the wall and the firm shot nestled in the bottom-left corner.
The third put the game completely out of sight for Basingstoke. A great scramble ensued following an inswinging corner from Charlie Henry and the ball was eventually stabbed home by Douglas.
Basingstoke were then awarded a penalty when the referee adjudged a handball against Jamie Collins. The decision looked somewhat harsh as Collins defended a fiercely struck shot but Robbie Rice slotted home the spot-kick to provide an ounce of optimism for the home side.
That hope was quickly extinguished shortly into the second half as Sam Foley continued his amazing run of form in front of goal. He latched onto an excellent pass down the left-hand channel by Martyn Giles. Foley darted into the penalty area and slipped a finish past the onrushing Basingstoke goalkeeper for County’s fourth.
Foley whipped a Kerry Morgan cross against the bar before Giles headed home a fifth as he attacked a corner and glanced an effort to the left of the goalkeeper. Five for Newport and once again, their dominance on show for all to see.
By Alex Winter
