Two second-half goals saw Newport County open up an eight-point gap at the top of the Blue Square South against Bromley on Sunday.
Danny Rose broke the deadlock before a stoppage time diving header from Kerry Morgan sealed the points for County.
The win – County’s seventh home success this season – coupled with Dover’s defeat at Weston-super-mare, has seen the Welsh side develop a significant advantage and they have a game in hand over their nearest rivals.
A magnificent 2,026 supporters watched a sound and professional performance by the home side, who needed patience and persistence to break down a spirited Bromley outfit. The visitors battled hard and it took two moments of excellent football to take the three points.
Just after the hour mark, Scott Rogers found Rose in space, and his sweetly struck shot found the back of the net to relive the hosts’ frustration. The points were wrapped up in injury time when Ashan Holgate’s neat play enabled him to cross and Morgan swooped to double the advantage.
It had been a nervy first half for County, whose defence was tested as Bromley demonstrated why they have picked up eleven points away from home this season; but the back-line remained well organised and kept their tenth clean sheet of the campaign, before the second-half goals completed a hard-fought win.
journalism student Alex Winter edits Gloucestershire cricket blog, The Shire Blog
