Newport County brought Stockport County's winning run to a grinding halt with a 2-1 win and a fantastic performance at Rodney Parade.
Graham Coughlan made three changes from the side that faced Mansfield Town last weekend. James Clarke and Seb Palmer-Houlden make their first starts since returning from injury, while Matt Baker returned from international duty with Wales U21.
Stockport arrived in South Wales on a 12-game winning streak, but it turned out to be unlucky number 13 at Rodney Parade as they came up against a determined and well-organised Newport side. Graham Coughlan’s team took the battle to the league leaders, turning the bulk of the first half into a battle of attrition before delivering a killer blow on the stroke of half-time.
Newport showed an early sign of intent, with a quick free kick from McLoughlin being played to Bogle in the box. The striker had his effort blocked by Fraser Horsefall, with Will Evans's outstretched leg unable to make contact with the follow-up.
The visitors then carved out their first opportunity of the game in the tenth minute. A scramble in the box following a dangerous corner led to Tanto Olaofe slicing a shot just wide of the goal.
We continued to look for holes in the Stockport backline with Bogle running at the defence and sliding a ball through to Seb Palmer-Houlden in the box; the striker attempted to turn a shot goalward but was blocked by Ibby Touray.
James Clarke reminded Newport fans of the quality he brings to the team on his full return. The defender was on hand to keep the strike duo of Kyle Wootton and Tanto Olaofe at bay, notably deflecting a shot wide from the latter as he glanced down on goal in the 23rd minute.
Wootoon would then grab Stockport’s next real opportunity, heading a ball directly into the hands of Nick Townsend from a free kick in the 40th minute.
We would dominate the closing moments of the first half, and our pressure was rewarded in magnificent fashion on the stroke of half-time.
In a beautiful move straight from the training ground, a free kick was played across the edge of the box to Bryn Morris, with the midfielder striking the ball through a crowded area past a helpless Ben Hinchcliffe in the Stockport goal.
Half-time
The goal before half-time lit a fire under what was already a determined Newport side. The visitors had spells of possession in the opening stages of the second half but were unable to find a way through a formidable backline, with Clarke and McLoughlin impressing.
We were denied a clear goalscoring opportunity in the 53rd minute. Seb Palmer-Houlden continued to make his presence felt, playing a clever ball over the top to Will Evans. Evans was then brought down by a mistimed tackle from Ibby Touray, with the defender receiving a booking for the challenge. Ben Hinchcliffe claimed the resulting free kick.
Shane McLoughlin, the architect for our opener, doubled the lead in spectacular fashion in the 67th minute. A ball from the left towards Seb Palmer-Houlden was cleared by Fraser Horsfall but only as far as McLoughlin, just inside the area. He took a touch before firing a ferocious volley into the top left-hand corner of the net to make it 2-0.
Rodney Parade was on its feet once when Will Evans very nearly made it three just minutes later. A powerful run from Bryn Morris, who put in an excellent performance in the middle of the park, found the striker inside the area, and he took a touch before curling it just wide of the post.
Coughlan went to his bench for the first time in the 72nd minute, replacing Seb Palmer Houlden with Kiban Rai, with the on-loan striker receiving a standing ovation for a fantastic afternoon's work.
Rai nearly made his presence felt less than sixty seconds after coming on. County continued to apply pressure, with Will Evans finding Rai on the edge of the area. The striker brought the ball onto his inside foot but was unable to keep the resulting effort down.
The visitors' first chance of the half came in the 82nd minute, with Macauley Southam-Hales firing a free-kick from the right-hand side of the box just over the bar.
With the clock ticking down, Stockport went in search of a response. Their next major chance came in the 92nd minute. Nick Towsend pulled off a spectacular double save, first denying a Paddy Madden volley and then blocking the follow-up from Will Collar.
The visitors would grab a consolation in the 96th minute, with Tanto Olaofe tapping home after putting pressure on Nick Townsend following a cross from the right.
That was the last of the action, though, with Newport holding strong and securing the 2-1 win, sparking celebratory scenes around Rodney Parade.
Full-time
Next up, we make the long trip to Lancashire on Tuesday night. You can purchase tickets for our game against Morecambe here.
Attendance: 4,053 (604 away)
Newport County: Townsend, Payne, Delaney (C), Clarke, McLoughlin, Baker, Bennett, Morris, Palmer-Houlden (Rai 72'), Bogle, Evans.
Substitutes: Maxted, Bondswell, Waite, Wood, Rai, Sanca.
Stockport County: Hinchcliffe, Touray (Richardson 62'), Horsfall, Southam-Hales, Powell (Madden 62'), Collar (Cotterill 92'), Pye, Croasdale (Wright 62'), Wootton, Olaofe, Bailey
Subs: Smith, Knoyle, Wright, Byrne, Madden, Cotterill, Richardson