Newport 3-1 Northampton: County up to fourth after brushing Cobblers aside

Newport's first-half blitz got them back to winning ways as they brushed Northampton aside with a 3-1 win.

Goals from Josh Sheehan, Jamille Matt and Padraig Amond before the break put Michael Flynn's side in control after Andy Williams had initially cancelled out Sheehan's effort.

It was the perfect way for County to bounce back from their weekend defeat at Cheltenham as they recorded their 10th win of the season.

It took just five minutes for County to move ahead as Sheehan curled Dan Butler's pass into the bottom corner.

Town levelled it up when the hosts failed to clear David Buchanan's cross and Williams fired past goalkeeper Joe Day.

County boss Flynn had fumed at referee Andy Davies as he felt his side should have had a free-kick in the build-up and the goal only served to make him angrier.

Tyreeq Bakinson and Sheehan had further chances and Matt should have done better with a tame headed effort, but the latter then made amends with Newport's second.

Butler's free-kick was headed back across goal by Mark O'Brien and Matt could not miss.

Soon it was 3-1, Bakinson laying on Amond who side-footed home.

Northampton introduced Billy Waters for John-Joe O'Toole for the second half, but the Cobblers struggled to find a way back into the game.

Visiting boss Keith Curle then added forward Daniel Powell to the fray in search of greater attacking impetus just after the hour mark but Newport remained resolute.

Matt came close to a fourth goal as he ran in on goal only to see his effort blocked from close range, but by that stage County's work had long since been done.

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