Newport County made it five wins in a row with a victory over promotion hopefuls Hereford United at a packed Rodney Parade.

Home goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley saved Harry Pell's first-half penalty and home boss Justin Edinburgh was sent to the stands for kicking a ball away.

Midfielder Andy Sandell put the Exiles in front with a 25-yard shot into the top corner of the Hereford goal.

Aaron O'Connor then fired home Danny Crow's pass late on to double the lead.

Newport, who were cheered on by a crowd of over 4,300, remain top of the Blue Square Bet Premier table thanks to their 100% record.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Newport County manager Justin Edinburgh told BBC Radio Wales:

"I think the game was an outstanding advert for the Conference.

"The two goals would grace two or three levels above.

"The atmosphere is what we're in football for so it's a fantastic night for us here and one that we'll remember for a long while."

Lineup, Bookings (7) & Substitutions (4)

Newport County

  • 40 Pidgeley
  • 05 James
  • 06 Yakubu Booked
  • 02 Pipe
  • 04 Porter
  • 13 Sandell Booked
  • 16 Evans (Thomson - 64' Booked )
  • 17 Flynn Booked
  • 07 O'Connor
  • 09 Crow Booked
  • 10 Louis (Charles - 70' Booked )

Substitutes

  • 22 Perry
  • 03 Hughes
  • 14 Thomson
  • 15 Harris
  • 11 Charles

Hereford United

  • 12 Hanford
  • 02 Gallinagh Booked
  • 05 Townsend
  • 06 Graham
  • 08 Carruthers (Smikle - 79' )
  • 04 Pell
  • 07 Watkins
  • 11 Clist
  • 18 Clucas
  • 10 Canham (Bowman - 73' )
  • 21 Nicholls

Substitutes

  • 01 Bittner
  • 14 Stam
  • 20 Sammons
  • 22 Smikle
  • 19 Bowman
Ref: Horwood
Att: 4,365

Match Stats

Shots

6 5

On target

4 3

Corners

5 6

Fouls

20 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:20 Full time

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

90:00 +5:58 Booking

Booking Jake Thomson receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +5:18 Booking

Booking Danny Crow receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +4:14

Danny Crow provided the assist for the goal.

90:00 +4:14 Goal scored

Goal - Aaron O'Connor - Newport Co 2 - 0 Hereford A goal is scored by Aaron O'Connor from close in to the top right corner of the goal. Newport County 2-0 Hereford.

90:00 +2:56

Ryan Bowman takes a shot. Save by Lenny Pidgeley.

90:00 +0:32

Michael Flynn fouled by Ryan Bowman, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

89:49

Indirect free kick taken by Michael Flynn.

89:49 Booking

Booking Andy Gallinagh goes into the book.

89:37

Andy Gallinagh gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Charles.

88:41

Unfair challenge on Michael Townsend by Danny Crow results in a free kick. Dan Hanford restarts play with the free kick.

85:36

Dan Hanford restarts play with the free kick.

85:36 Booking

Booking Ryan Charles is given a yellow card.

85:08

Foul by Ryan Charles on Brian Smikle, free kick awarded.

84:36

Harry Pell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jake Thomson. Andy Sandell restarts play with the free kick.

81:57

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Brian Smikle by Max Porter. Corner taken by Simon Clist from the left by-line, save by Lenny Pidgeley.

80:50

Danny Crow is caught offside. Free kick taken by Dan Hanford.

78:32 Substitution

Substitution Brian Smikle on for Chris Carruthers.

77:59

Jake Thomson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Samuel Clucas. Free kick taken by Dan Hanford.

77:04

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Simon Clist, save made by Lenny Pidgeley.

76:00

Indirect free kick taken by Simon Clist.

76:00 Booking

Booking Ismail Yakubu shown a yellow card.

75:50

Ryan Bowman fouled by Ismail Yakubu, the ref awards a free kick.

74:56 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Sandell - Newport Co 1 - 0 Hereford Andy Sandell scores a goal from outside the box to the top right corner of the goal. Newport County 1-0 Hereford.

73:10

The free kick is swung in right-footed by Marley Watkins.

73:10 Booking

Booking Andy Sandell receives a yellow card.

73:04

Andy Sandell concedes a free kick for a foul on Marley Watkins.

71:38

Dan Hanford takes the free kick.

71:38 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Bowman replaces Sean Canham.

71:38

Danny Crow concedes a free kick for a foul on Harry Pell.

70:28

Andy Gallinagh gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Charles. Andy Sandell restarts play with the free kick.

69:39 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Charles joins the action as a substitute, replacing Jefferson Louis.

68:38

Simon Clist takes a inswinging corner.

65:48

The referee penalises Samuel Clucas for handball. Andy Sandell restarts play with the free kick, Dan Hanford sends in a cross, clearance by Dan Hanford. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Jake Thomson from the left by-line, free kick awarded for a foul by Ismail Yakubu on Michael Townsend. Chris Carruthers restarts play with the free kick.

63:38

Indirect free kick taken by Chris Carruthers.

63:38 Substitution

Substitution (Newport County) makes a substitution, with Jake Thomson coming on for Lee Evans.

63:38

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Flynn on Sean Canham.

60:44

Foul by Ismail Yakubu on Tom Nichols, free kick awarded. Chris Carruthers takes the free kick.

58:23

Corner taken by Andy Sandell from the right by-line to the near post, clearance by Michael Townsend. Free kick awarded for a foul by Ismail Yakubu on Sean Canham. Dan Hanford takes the free kick.

57:08

Effort on goal by Danny Crow from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.

53:05

Jefferson Louis concedes a free kick for a foul on Marley Watkins. Indirect free kick taken by Andy Gallinagh.

52:03

Aaron O'Connor takes a shot. Save by Dan Hanford.

50:33

Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Andy Sandell, save made by Dan Hanford.

43:58

Unfair challenge on Lenny Pidgeley by Samuel Clucas results in a free kick. Tony James takes the free kick.

45:32

Free kick awarded for a foul by Tom Nichols on Ismail Yakubu. Lenny Pidgeley restarts play with the free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:00 +2:06 Half time

Half Time The match has reached half-time.

45:00 +1:41

Tom Nichols concedes a free kick for a foul on Ismail Yakubu. Free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

43:58

Samuel Clucas challenges Lenny Pidgeley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Tony James takes the indirect free kick.

40:15 Booking

Booking Michael Flynn receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

40:02

Harry Pell fouled by Michael Flynn, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Dan Hanford.

36:48

Unfair challenge on Sean Canham by Andy Sandell results in a free kick. Marley Watkins takes the indirect free kick.

36:08

Lee Evans has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.

35:01

Corner taken left-footed by Simon Clist from the right by-line to the near post, save by Lenny Pidgeley. Corner from the left by-line taken by Marley Watkins, Lenny Pidgeley makes a save.

33:19

Max Porter concedes a free kick for a foul on Harry Pell. Simon Clist takes the free kick. Tom Nichols is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Lenny Pidgeley takes the free kick. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Tom Nichols by Ismail Yakubu. Simon Clist takes the indirect free kick.

33:19

Max Porter gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Harry Pell. Simon Clist restarts play with the free kick. The assistant referee flags for offside against Tom Nichols. Indirect free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley. Foul by Ismail Yakubu on Tom Nichols, free kick awarded. Simon Clist takes the free kick.

32:32

Andy Sandell takes the inswinging corner, save made by Dan Hanford.

32:32

Corner taken by Andy Sandell from the right by-line, save by Dan Hanford.

30:55

Handball decision goes against Aaron O'Connor. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Carruthers. Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ismail Yakubu by Michael Townsend. Indirect free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

30:55

Aaron O'Connor handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Chris Carruthers restarts play with the free kick. Michael Townsend gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ismail Yakubu. Lenny Pidgeley takes the free kick.

29:28

Danny Crow takes a shot. Chris Carruthers manages to make a clearance.

28:06

Tom Nichols takes a shot. Save made by Lenny Pidgeley.

24:11

Andy Sandell challenges Harry Pell unfairly and gives away a free kick. Dan Hanford restarts play with the free kick.

23:00

Simon Clist gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Evans. Michael Flynn takes the indirect free kick.

19:37

Foul by Samuel Clucas on Aaron O'Connor, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

16:07

Tony James challenges Andy Gallinagh unfairly and gives away a free kick. Marley Watkins takes the indirect free kick.

6:45

Tony James fouled by Harry Pell, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

11:17 Penalty

Penalty taken by Harry Pell is saved by Lenny Pidgeley. Newport County 0-0 Hereford.

9:56

David Pipe challenges Simon Clist unfairly and gives away a Penalty.

11:17 Penalty

Penalty taken by Harry Pell is saved by Lenny Pidgeley. Newport County 0-0 Hereford.

9:56

David Pipe gives away a Penalty for an unfair challenge on Simon Clist.

9:00

Unfair challenge on Sean Canham by Jefferson Louis results in a free kick. Dan Hanford takes the indirect free kick.

7:16

Sean Canham takes a shot. Save made by Lenny Pidgeley.

6:45

Harry Pell challenges Tony James unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lenny Pidgeley takes the indirect free kick.

5:50

Corner taken left-footed by Andy Sandell to the near post, save made by Dan Hanford.

4:58

Foul by Marley Watkins on Andy Sandell, free kick awarded. Tony James takes the free kick.

2:10

Effort from close range by Sean Canham hits the post.

0:28

Samuel Clucas takes a shot. Michael Townsend takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, David Pipe makes a clearance.

0:00

The match begins.

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