Newport County extended their recent winning run to five games with a fine 3-0 victory at Lewes on Saturday.
The match went as-per the formbook and the Blue Square South leaders strolled to a comfortable success on a very enjoyable day out for the Newport faithful; Lewes boasting the quaintest ground in the league and the ”Amber Army” lapped up the rich history of the Dripping Pan.
Their day was given a boost when Scott Rogers netted his first goal in County colours; turning in a cross from Craig Reid after neat play in the penalty area by the lively forward.
The visitors’ task became all the easier when Lewes left-back Ryan Timms hauled down Dave Gilroy when through on goal. Timms was rightly dismissed but Reid saw his penalty effort saved by goalkeeper Rikki Banks to keep the home side in the game.
Lewes attempted to play with inventiveness but just lacked some cohesion in the final third, and the relentless County defence recorded an 11th clean sheet of the campaign.
The Exiles extended their advantage after the interval, when Reid again busied himself and laid a ball for James Collins to play in Kerry Morgan whose near post strike doubled the advantage.
The points were sealed in the final 10 minutes when Charlie Henry finished Sam Foley’s incisive pass to complete a fine afternoon for Newport.
The win maintains County’s eight-point lead at the top of the division, still with a game in hand over second-placed Dover, who overcame Thurrock one-nil on Saturday.
By Alex Winter
