Newport County ensured Blue Square Bet Premier safety thanks to Romone Rose's first-half goal against Alfreton Town.

Justin Edinburgh's side needed a point to banish their relegation fears, and went one better with two games left to the relief of their fans.

Rose latched on to Sam Foley's well-placed cross to calmly slot the ball home after 38 minutes.

The hosts jumped three places to 17th while Alfreton remained 15th following a scrappy end-of-season encounter.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Alfreton boss Nicky Law told BBC Radio Derby:

"The pitch is horrendous isn't it and I think you were looking at two tired teams.

"From a personal point of view, we lost Darren Kempson today and we lost our goalkeeper last week and I thought it was a remarkable change it was from just losing two players.

"We looked like the team that was struggling so much earlier in the season.

"They've had one shot and we've lost 1-0. I don't need to say anymore do I? Their keeper made two great saves and I'm back to where we were in the early part of the season. We've had one shot against us and we've conceded."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (5)

Newport County

  • 43 Darlow
  • 05 Warren
  • 06 Yakubu
  • 16 Hughes
  • 19 Pipe
  • 30 Minshull
  • 42 Porter
  • 10 Foley
  • 20 Charles (Knights - 72' )
  • 31 Rose (Jarvis - 46' )
  • 41 Read

Substitutes

  • 18 Thompson
  • 25 Rodgers
  • 11 Knights
  • 15 Jarvis
  • 26 Buchanan

Alfreton Town

  • 01 Lowson
  • 04 Streete Booked
  • 12 Franks
  • 26 Kempson (Franklin - 23' )
  • 29 Connelly
  • 07 Brown
  • 08 Moult
  • 22 Meadows (Law - 74' )
  • 09 Clayton
  • 15 Wilson Booked
  • 28 Cunnington (Jarman - 73' )

Substitutes

  • 02 Law
  • 03 Franklin
  • 19 Mullan
  • 11 Arnold
  • 16 Jarman
Ref: Barratt
Att: 1,239

Match Stats

Shots

6 10

On target

4 5

Corners

8 8

Fouls

17 17

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:17 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +4:29

A cross is delivered by Seamus Conneely, David Pipe manages to make a clearance.

90:00 +4:08

The referee blows for offside. Direct free kick taken by Dan Lowson.

90:00 +3:43

Direct free kick taken by Sam Foley.

90:00 +3:43 Booking

Booking The referee books Anthony Wilson for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +3:29

Anthony Wilson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Andrew Hughes.

90:00 +2:41

The ball is crossed by Darryl Knights. Sam Foley decides to take a short corner.

90:00 +1:47

David Pipe crosses the ball.

89:54

Foul by Theo Streete on Jake Reid, free kick awarded. Andrew Hughes takes the free kick.

89:31

Karl Darlow fouled by Leigh Franks, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Karl Darlow.

88:29

David Pipe challenges Paul Clayton unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick crossed right-footed by Josh Law from left wing, clearance made by Gary Warren. Josh Law takes the inswinging corner, save by Karl Darlow.

87:14

Ismail Yakubu challenges Anthony Wilson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Josh Law takes the direct free kick.

86:38

Darryl Knights challenges Theo Streete unfairly and gives away a free kick. Dan Lowson restarts play with the free kick.

86:19

Jake Moult is caught offside. Karl Darlow takes the direct free kick.

85:07

Jake Moult takes a shot. Save by Karl Darlow. Corner from the right by-line taken by Josh Law, Jake Moult takes a shot. Karl Darlow makes a save.

84:15

Dan Lowson fouled by Gary Warren, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Dan Lowson.

83:09

Darryl Knights produces a cross, Nathaniel Jarvis takes a shot. Dan Lowson makes a save. Corner taken right-footed by Sam Foley from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Anthony Wilson.

81:48

Paul Clayton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Pipe. Sam Foley takes the direct free kick.

80:24

Leigh Franks gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jake Reid. Shot comes in from Sam Foley from the free kick.

78:24

Direct free kick taken by Sam Foley.

78:24 Booking

Booking Theo Streete is booked.

78:15

Theo Streete concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Minshull.

77:35

Outswinging corner taken by Josh Law from the right by-line played to the near post, Max Porter makes a clearance.

75:00

The ball is sent over by Seamus Conneely, Nathan Jarman has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

74:01

Unfair challenge on Max Porter by Josh Law results in a free kick. Andrew Hughes takes the direct free kick.

73:47

Sam Foley takes a shot. Save by Dan Lowson.

73:41

The ball is delivered by Andrew Hughes, clearance by Connor Franklin.

72:24 Substitution

Substitution Josh Law replaces Danny Meadows.

72:24 Substitution

Substitution Adam Cunnington leaves the field to be replaced by Nathan Jarman.

71:28 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Charles goes off and Darryl Knights comes on.

70:01

Corner taken right-footed by Sam Foley from the right by-line, Danny Meadows makes a clearance.

69:52

The ball is sent over by Jake Reid, clearance by Danny Meadows.

69:12

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Cunnington on Gary Warren. Karl Darlow takes the free kick.

68:36

Sam Foley concedes a free kick for a foul on Anton Brown. Leigh Franks takes the free kick.

67:58

Shot by Sam Foley from outside the box goes high over the target.

67:08

Effort by Theo Streete from a long way out goes over the crossbar.

66:45

Adam Cunnington fouled by Ismail Yakubu, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Leigh Franks.

65:48

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Sam Foley, save made by Dan Lowson.

59:46

The ball is sent over by Paul Clayton.

57:22

Paul Clayton takes a shot. Save by Karl Darlow.

56:49

Danny Meadows decides to take a short corner, The ball is sent over by Seamus Conneely, clearance by Nathaniel Jarvis.

54:09

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Andrew Hughes.

52:44

Shot from just outside the area by Leigh Franks goes over the bar.

51:33

David Pipe concedes a free kick for a foul on Paul Clayton. Dan Lowson takes the free kick.

51:22

The ball is crossed by David Pipe, clearance made by Theo Streete.

50:27

The assistant referee flags for offside against Anthony Wilson. Karl Darlow takes the free kick.

49:44

Centre by Jake Moult, clearance made by Gary Warren.

48:24

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Danny Meadows played to the near post, Ismail Yakubu makes a clearance. Danny Meadows takes a inswinging corner from the left by-line to the near post.

47:24

Free kick awarded for a foul by Max Porter on Danny Meadows. Leigh Franks takes the direct free kick.

46:14

Foul by Theo Streete on Jake Reid, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed by Andrew Hughes.

45:26

Foul by Jake Reid on Leigh Franks, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Dan Lowson.

45:01

The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Nathaniel Jarvis joins the action as a substitute, replacing Romone Rose.

45:00 +7:18 Half time

Half Time It is the end of the first-half.

45:00 +6:27

Anton Brown fouled by Andrew Hughes, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Jake Moult from right wing, Lee Minshull manages to make a clearance.

45:00 +5:36

Anton Brown is ruled offside. Karl Darlow takes the free kick.

45:00 +4:45

Foul by Lee Minshull on Adam Cunnington, free kick awarded. Jake Moult takes the direct free kick.

45:00 +3:47

Unfair challenge on Seamus Conneely by Romone Rose results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Dan Lowson.

45:00 +3:01

The ball is crossed by Ryan Charles.

45:00 +0:04

Seamus Conneely takes a shot. Save by Karl Darlow.

40:19

The assistant referee flags for offside against Jake Reid. Free kick taken by Dan Lowson.

39:36

Inswinging corner taken by Andrew Hughes, Anthony Wilson makes a clearance.

37:57

Assist on the goal came from Sam Foley.

37:57 Goal scored

Goal - Romone Rose - Newport Co 1 - 0 Alfreton Romone Rose scores a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Newport County 1-0 Alfreton Town.

37:20

Gary Warren fouled by Anthony Wilson, the ref awards a free kick. Karl Darlow takes the direct free kick.

35:14

Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee Minshull on Paul Clayton. Direct free kick taken by Leigh Franks.

34:01

Adam Cunnington fouled by Ismail Yakubu, the ref awards a free kick. Shot comes in from Leigh Franks from the free kick.

33:05

Ryan Charles takes a shot. Save by Dan Lowson. Corner from the right by-line taken by Sam Foley, Danny Meadows manages to make a clearance.

29:58

Corner taken by Danny Meadows from the right by-line, clearance made by David Pipe.

28:28

Handball by Jake Reid. Free kick taken by Leigh Franks.

27:07

The ball is delivered by Sam Foley.

26:53

Ryan Charles produces a cross, Seamus Conneely manages to make a clearance.

25:30

Outswinging corner taken by Sam Foley from the right by-line played to the near post, Paul Clayton makes a clearance.

24:54

Unfair challenge on Gary Warren by Adam Cunnington results in a free kick. Sam Foley takes the free kick.

22:48 Substitution

Substitution Connor Franklin on for Darran Kempson.

22:32

Foul by Darran Kempson on Sam Foley, free kick awarded. Andrew Hughes takes the direct free kick.

17:31

Unfair challenge on Theo Streete by Lee Minshull results in a free kick. Dan Lowson takes the direct free kick.

17:06

The ball is sent over by Romone Rose, clearance made by Jake Moult.

16:53

The ball is delivered by Andrew Hughes, clearance made by Darran Kempson.

16:43

The ball is sent over by Sam Foley, clearance by Anton Brown.

14:33

Jake Reid fouled by Darran Kempson, the ref awards a free kick. Andrew Hughes takes the direct free kick.

13:46

Free kick awarded for a foul by Romone Rose on Seamus Conneely. Leigh Franks restarts play with the free kick.

12:38

Paul Clayton takes a shot. Save made by Karl Darlow. A cross is delivered by Jake Moult, Adam Cunnington produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

8:57

Paul Clayton concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Minshull. Free kick crossed right-footed by Sam Foley, Paul Clayton manages to make a clearance.

6:03

Danny Meadows gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Sam Foley. Karl Darlow takes the free kick.

5:42

Paul Clayton fouled by Gary Warren, the ref awards a free kick. Jake Moult takes the direct free kick.

4:34

Foul by Adam Cunnington on Gary Warren, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Karl Darlow.

2:30

Unfair challenge on Jake Reid by Leigh Franks results in a free kick. Andrew Hughes restarts play with the free kick.

0:00

The game kicks-off.

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