Sam Foley's first-half winner helped Newport County climb one place to 16th in the Blue Square Bet Premier as they continued to battle the threat of relegation.

Victory could have been more comfortable for the hosts as they dented Mansfield's play-off hopes.

Foley was among those to waste chances for the hosts.

But he gave County their fifth win in six games as he converted Nat Jarvis' cross in the 33rd minute.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"After that performance a few harsh words were needed to be said and I needed to question desire levels today.

"I just think we looked sluggish, I think we looked a yard off the pace all over the park, I don't think that work ethic was there today.

"We dust ourselves down, pick ourselves up and there's 15 games to go. Hopefully we'll try and rectify what went wrong today.

"When in possession we didn't look sharp and more than anything mentally we were a mile off the pace"

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5)

Newport County

  • 18 Thompson
  • 03 Baker
  • 05 Warren (Rodgers - 46' )
  • 16 Hughes
  • 19 Pipe
  • 10 Foley
  • 30 Minshull Booked
  • 32 Chapman
  • 15 Jarvis Booked
  • 20 Charles (Read - 52' )
  • 26 Buchanan

Substitutes

  • 01 Potter
  • 25 Rodgers
  • 23 Harris
  • 31 Rose
  • 41 Read

Mansfield

  • 01 Marriott
  • 06 Riley Booked
  • 16 O'Neill
  • 17 Sutton
  • 31 Dempster Booked
  • 11 Murray
  • 15 Dyer (Rhead - 46' )
  • 19 Smith (Howell - 46' )
  • 35 Roberts
  • 10 Green
  • 28 Hutchinson (Edwards - 46' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 23 Redmond
  • 02 Edwards
  • 21 Howell
  • 09 Rhead
  • 24 Meikle
Ref: Robinson
Att: 1,285

Match Stats

Shots

14 5

On target

5 2

Corners

3 3

Fouls

14 20

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:33 Full time

Full Time The final whistle is blown by the referee.

90:00 +3:40

Free kick taken by Nathaniel Jarvis.

90:00 +3:40 Booking

Booking Paul Edwards is cautioned.

90:00 +3:29

Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Edwards on Nathaniel Jarvis.

90:00 +2:30

Unfair challenge on Jake Reid by Paul Edwards results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Sam Foley.

90:00 +1:21

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Lee Minshull by John Dempster. Direct free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

89:40

Unfair challenge on John Dempster by Sam Foley results in a free kick. Strike comes in from Luke O'Neill from the free kick, blocked by Sam Foley. Luke O'Neill takes the outswinging corner, Lee Baker manages to make a clearance.

88:16

The offside flag is raised against Elliott Buchanan. Alan Marriott takes the free kick.

85:30

Martin Riley concedes a free kick for a foul on Jake Reid. Adam Chapman takes the direct free kick.

84:03

Effort on goal by Elliott Buchanan from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

81:43

Unfair challenge on Sam Foley by Adam Murray results in a free kick. Andrew Hughes takes the free kick.

81:03

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jake Reid by Gary Roberts. Adam Chapman restarts play with the free kick.

79:25

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Chapman on Gary Roberts. Gary Roberts crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Lee Minshull manages to make a clearance.

78:57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Edwards by Nathaniel Jarvis. Alan Marriott takes the direct free kick.

74:18

Nathaniel Jarvis takes a shot. Alan Marriott makes a save. Inswinging corner taken by Adam Chapman, Matt Rhead makes a clearance.

74:00

The ball is crossed by Elliott Buchanan, Martin Riley manages to make a clearance.

73:45

Jake Reid fouled by Martin Riley, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by David Pipe.

72:38

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Rodgers by Matthew Green. Glyn Thompson takes the direct free kick.

72:21

The ball is delivered by Lee Minshull, Alan Marriott makes a save.

71:45

Nathaniel Jarvis fouled by Paul Edwards, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Chapman.

71:07

Elliott Buchanan fouled by Ritchie Sutton, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Lee Baker.

70:10

Lee Minshull fouled by Matt Rhead, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

65:52

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Paul Rodgers by Matthew Green. Free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

65:14

Elliott Buchanan delivers the ball, clearance made by John Dempster. Effort on goal by Lee Minshull from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target.

63:09

The ball is crossed by Paul Edwards.

60:58

Luke O'Neill restarts play with the free kick.

60:58 Booking

Booking Caution for Nathaniel Jarvis.

60:19

The ball is swung over by Sam Foley, Matthew Green makes a clearance. The ball is crossed by Sam Foley, Nathaniel Jarvis takes a shot. Save by Alan Marriott. Adam Chapman concedes a free kick for a foul on Matthew Green.

59:48

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Adam Chapman, clearance by Matt Rhead.

58:37

Alan Marriott takes the free kick. Foul by Matt Rhead on Lee Minshull, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

58:37 Booking

Booking Booking for Lee Minshull for unsporting behaviour.

58:20

Lee Minshull concedes a free kick for a foul on Martin Riley.

57:23

The ball is crossed by Elliott Buchanan, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Jake Reid misses to the left of the goal.

56:27

Matt Rhead challenges Lee Minshull unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

55:26

Matthew Green takes a shot. Save made by Glyn Thompson.

53:27

Shot from just outside the penalty box by Sam Foley misses to the left of the target. Unfair challenge on Matt Rhead by Lee Minshull results in a free kick. Gary Roberts takes the free kick.

51:04 Substitution

Substitution Jake Reid replaces Ryan Charles.

51:04

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Matt Rhead by Lee Minshull. Strike comes in from Gary Roberts from the free kick.

50:22

Nathaniel Jarvis takes a shot. Save made by Alan Marriott. Shot from inside the area by Adam Murray clears the bar.

47:43

Lee Minshull gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Matt Rhead. Gary Roberts takes the free kick.

47:17

Adam Chapman takes a shot from long range clearing the crossbar.

45:02

Lee Baker produces a cross, Paul Edwards makes a clearance.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Matt Rhead joins the action as a substitute, replacing Ross Dyer.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution (Mansfield) makes a substitution, with Paul Edwards coming on for Ben Hutchinson.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Paul Rodgers on for Gary Warren.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Anthony Howell is brought on as a substitute for Adam Smith.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Ross Dyer goes off and Matt Rhead comes on.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Anthony Howell is brought on as a substitute for Adam Smith.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Gary Warren leaves the field to be replaced by Paul Rodgers.

45:00 +1:54 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +0:24

Glyn Thompson takes the free kick.

45:00 +0:24 Booking

Booking The referee books Martin Riley for unsporting behaviour.

45:00 +0:05

Lee Minshull fouled by Martin Riley, the ref awards a free kick.

43:44

Ben Hutchinson challenges Sam Foley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lee Baker restarts play with the free kick.

42:47

The ball is swung over by Ryan Charles, Gary Roberts manages to make a clearance.

42:06

The ball is crossed by Ryan Charles, clearance made by Gary Roberts.

41:31

Adam Smith gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Pipe. Free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

40:37

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sam Foley by Adam Murray. Glyn Thompson takes the free kick.

38:45

Sam Foley delivers the ball, Elliott Buchanan produces a left-footed shot from the edge of the box and misses to the right of the target.

38:34

Sam Foley crosses the ball, clearance made by Martin Riley.

37:33

Luke O'Neill fouled by Lee Minshull, the ref awards a free kick. Alan Marriott restarts play with the free kick.

34:44

The referee blows for offside. Glyn Thompson restarts play with the free kick.

32:49

Assist by Lee Minshull.

32:49 Goal scored

Goal - Sam Foley - Newport Co 1 - 0 Mansfield Sam Foley fires in a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Newport County 1-0 Mansfield.

29:36

Shot by Sam Foley from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.

28:48

Ryan Charles produces a cross, John Dempster makes a clearance.

27:52

The ball is crossed by Gary Roberts, Headed effort from inside the area by Adam Smith misses to the left of the target.

25:53 Booking

Booking John Dempster booked for unsporting behaviour.

25:05

The ball is sent over by Nathaniel Jarvis, Elliott Buchanan takes a shot. Save made by Alan Marriott.

23:53

Lee Minshull concedes a free kick for a foul on Alan Marriott. Free kick taken by Alan Marriott.

22:53

Ryan Charles produces a cross, clearance by John Dempster. Short corner worked by Adam Chapman.

21:38

The official flags Ben Hutchinson offside. Indirect free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

21:20

The official flags Lee Minshull offside. Alan Marriott takes the indirect free kick.

19:43

The official flags Matthew Green offside. Indirect free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

17:27

Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee Minshull on Adam Murray. Free kick taken by Adam Murray.

16:09

Adam Murray gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sam Foley. Adam Chapman takes the direct free kick.

12:26

Corner taken by Luke O'Neill, free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Warren by Ross Dyer. Glyn Thompson takes the direct free kick.

10:50

Lee Minshull gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adam Smith. Alan Marriott takes the free kick.

8:54

Ritchie Sutton produces a cross, Glyn Thompson makes a save.

7:03

Shot from close in by Sam Foley misses to the left of the goal.

3:55

Gary Warren challenges Ben Hutchinson unfairly and gives away a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Luke O'Neill from left wing. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Luke O'Neill.

3:16

Free kick awarded for a foul by Elliott Buchanan on John Dempster. Gary Roberts restarts play with the free kick.

2:46

Effort on goal by Sam Foley from just inside the penalty box goes harmlessly over the target.

1:57

Adam Smith delivers the ball, save by Glyn Thompson.

1:19

The official flags Ryan Charles offside. Alan Marriott takes the indirect free kick.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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