Ben Swallow's stoppage time winner at Rodney Parade maintained Newport County's place at the top of the Blue Square Bet Premier table.

Swallow found the top right corner from 25 yards to complete a County comeback.

A Chris Lever penalty, given for a Shaun Whalley foul by Andy Sandell, had put Southport ahead on 18 minutes.

Three Newport penalty claims were ignored before Aaron O'Connor's lobbed second-half equaliser, and then Swallow delivered a spectacular winner.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Newport manager Justin Edinburgh told BBC Radio Wales:

"Credit to Southport, they came and set about us early and we were on the back foot.

"I think what we've shown is we've got a good group here now and have overcome that and gone on to win the game. [I'm] absolutely delighted.

"The quality that we have brought from the bench has changed the game for us."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Newport County

  • 40 Pidgeley
  • 03 Hughes
  • 06 Yakubu
  • 02 Pipe
  • 04 Porter (Louis - 60' )
  • 08 Minshull
  • 13 Sandell Booked
  • 16 Evans
  • 17 Flynn (Thomson - 69' )
  • 07 O'Connor (Swallow - 85' )
  • 09 Crow

Substitutes

  • 22 Perry
  • 12 Swallow
  • 14 Thomson
  • 15 Harris
  • 10 Louis

Southport

  • 01 McMillan Booked
  • 02 Smith
  • 03 Lever
  • 06 Grand
  • 17 Lynch
  • 05 Parry
  • 07 Whalley (Tames - 82' )
  • 08 Ledsham
  • 16 Moogan
  • 22 Poku Booked (Benjamin - 73' )
  • 11 Almond (Bakare - 68' )

Substitutes

  • 13 Hibbert
  • 04 Akrigg
  • 12 Benjamin
  • 18 Tames
  • 19 Bakare
Ref: Bromley
Att: 2,802

Match Stats

Shots

13 7

On target

5 2

Corners

5 2

Fouls

11 17

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +6:22 Full time

Full Time The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.

90:00 +5:42

Danny Crow challenges Chris Lever unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Simon Grand.

90:00 +4:58

Unfair challenge on Jake Thomson by Simon Grand results in a free kick. Lee Evans takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +1:19

Jake Thomson provided the assist for the goal.

90:00 +1:19 Goal scored

Goal - Ben Swallow - Newport Co 2 - 1 Southport Ben Swallow scores a goal from just inside the area to the top right corner of the goal. Newport County 2-1 Southport.

89:09

Ismail Yakubu takes a shot. Save made by Tony McMillan.

88:20

Corner taken by Andy Sandell from the right by-line, clearance made by Steven Tames.

88:00

David Pipe produces a cross, Jefferson Louis takes a shot. Andy Parry gets a block in.

85:51

Steven Tames sends in a cross.

84:53 Substitution

Substitution Ben Swallow replaces Aaron O'Connor.

81:16 Substitution

Substitution Steven Tames replaces Shaun Whalley.

81:16

Foul by Ismail Yakubu on Michael Bakare, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Simon Grand.

80:41

Shaun Whalley takes a shot. Andrew Hughes gets a block in.

79:44

The assistant referee signals for offside against Aaron O'Connor. Free kick taken by Tony McMillan.

78:33

Jake Thomson takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar.

78:22

Danny Crow crosses the ball, Simon Grand manages to make a clearance.

78:09

Jake Thomson sends in a cross, clearance by James Smith.

77:48

Corner taken left-footed by Andy Sandell from the right by-line, Chris Lynch makes a clearance.

76:56

Centre by Jefferson Louis, Aaron O'Connor takes a shot. Save made by Tony McMillan.

76:56

Jefferson Louis crosses the ball, Aaron O'Connor takes a shot. Save by Tony McMillan.

75:27

The assist for the goal came from Jefferson Louis.

75:27 Goal scored

Goal - Aaron O'Connor - Newport Co 1 - 1 Southport Aaron O'Connor finds the back of the net with a goal from inside the box low into the middle of the goal. Newport County 1-1 Southport.

75:02

The ball is swung over by Lenny Pidgeley, clearance made by Simon Grand.

73:01

Aaron O'Connor takes a shot. Save made by Tony McMillan. Corner taken left-footed by Andy Sandell from the right by-line, Tony McMillan makes a clearance. Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Lee Evans from the left by-line.

72:02 Substitution

Substitution Russell Benjamin replaces Godfrey Poku.

70:39

Unfair challenge on Lee Evans by Godfrey Poku results in a free kick. Andy Sandell crosses the ball in from the free kick, Tony McMillan makes a save.

67:13 Substitution

Substitution Michael Flynn goes off and Jake Thomson comes on.

67:13 Substitution

Substitution Chris Almond leaves the field to be replaced by Michael Bakare.

66:57

Andy Sandell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Godfrey Poku.

67:13

Chris Lever takes the indirect free kick.

67:13 Substitution

Substitution Jake Thomson on for Michael Flynn.

67:13 Substitution

Substitution Michael Bakare comes on in place of Chris Almond.

67:13 Booking

Booking Booking for Andy Sandell.

66:57

Andy Sandell gives away a for an unfair challenge on Godfrey Poku.

64:13

Alan Moogan fouled by Lee Evans, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Lynch.

62:59

The ball is crossed by Andy Sandell.

62:27

Chris Almond challenges Lee Evans unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Lee Evans.

59:33 Substitution

Substitution Max Porter leaves the field to be replaced by Jefferson Louis.

57:43

Aaron O'Connor takes a shot. Alan Moogan gets a block in. Inswinging corner taken by Lee Evans from the left by-line, Godfrey Poku makes a clearance.

55:50

A cross is delivered by Aaron O'Connor, Header from deep inside the area by Danny Crow goes over the bar.

54:57

The ball is swung over by Andy Sandell, Effort from inside the area by Lee Minshull misses to the left of the target.

54:57

Andy Sandell produces a cross, Lee Minshull has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the target.

54:13

Godfrey Poku concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Crow. Michael Flynn takes the free kick.

53:58

A cross is delivered by Chris Almond, David Pipe manages to make a clearance.

52:59

Foul by David Pipe on Chris Lever, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Tony McMillan.

52:10 Booking

Booking Godfrey Poku booked.

51:59

Free kick awarded for a foul by Godfrey Poku on Lee Evans. Indirect free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

51:05

Unfair challenge on Ismail Yakubu by Chris Almond results in a free kick. Lee Evans takes the indirect free kick.

49:30

A cross is delivered by Michael Flynn, Chris Lynch manages to make a clearance.

48:54

Unfair challenge on David Pipe by Karl Ledsham results in a free kick. Lenny Pidgeley takes the direct free kick.

48:31

Godfrey Poku fouled by Max Porter, the ref awards a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Chris Lynch.

46:42

Chris Almond challenges Michael Flynn unfairly and gives away a free kick. Cross/shot by Lee Evans.

45:28

Foul by Alan Moogan on Lee Minshull, free kick awarded. Lee Evans takes the free kick.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:00 +1:29 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +1:10

Karl Ledsham takes a shot. Save made by Lenny Pidgeley.

43:50

Foul by Godfrey Poku on Lee Minshull, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Lee Evans.

43:37

The ball is delivered by Shaun Whalley.

43:13

Shaun Whalley fouled by Andy Sandell, the ref awards a free kick. Alan Moogan restarts play with the free kick.

41:26

Max Porter delivers the ball.

40:48

Centre by Andy Sandell, Chris Lynch makes a clearance.

40:04 Booking

Booking Tony McMillan is given a yellow card.

38:32

Andy Parry concedes a free kick for a foul on Lee Evans. Andrew Hughes takes the free kick.

35:16

Free kick awarded for a foul by Chris Lynch on Danny Crow. Lee Evans takes the direct free kick.

34:39

Alan Moogan takes a shot. Lenny Pidgeley makes a save.

33:52

Karl Ledsham produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the left-hand post.

32:44

Unfair challenge on Aaron O'Connor by Andy Parry results in a free kick. Andrew Hughes takes the indirect free kick.

31:57

Max Porter produces a cross, save made by Tony McMillan.

30:44

Foul by Chris Lynch on Danny Crow, free kick awarded. Direct strike on goal from the free kick comes in from Andy Sandell, save by Tony McMillan.

29:05

Godfrey Poku gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Max Porter. Andrew Hughes takes the indirect free kick.

26:09

Lee Evans produces a left-footed shot from just outside the penalty box that misses to the left of the goal.

25:55

A cross is delivered by Aaron O'Connor, Alan Moogan manages to make a clearance.

25:08

The ball is swung over by Lee Evans, clearance made by James Smith.

24:21

Simon Grand fouled by Aaron O'Connor, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Tony McMillan.

22:39

The ball is crossed by Shaun Whalley, Headed effort from inside the area by Karl Ledsham misses to the left of the goal.

22:18

Godfrey Poku gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Evans. Danny Crow takes the free kick.

21:40

Foul by Michael Flynn on Shaun Whalley, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Chris Lynch.

19:11

Shaun Whalley takes a shot. Save by Lenny Pidgeley.

17:50 Goal scored

Goal - Chris Lever - Newport Co 0 - 1 Southport Penalty taken right-footed by Chris Lever and scored. Newport County 0-1 Southport.

16:53

Shaun Whalley fouled by Andy Sandell, the ref awards a Penalty.

15:19

Simon Grand fouled by Aaron O'Connor, the ref awards a free kick. Tony McMillan takes the free kick.

13:44

Unfair challenge on Lee Minshull by Godfrey Poku results in a free kick. Lenny Pidgeley takes the indirect free kick.

13:32

Shaun Whalley produces a cross, Andrew Hughes manages to make a clearance.

12:19

Godfrey Poku takes a shot. Save made by Lenny Pidgeley.

11:55

A cross is delivered by Alan Moogan, clearance made by David Pipe.

9:47

The offside flag is raised against Chris Almond. Lenny Pidgeley restarts play with the free kick.

3:30

Corner taken right-footed by Shaun Whalley to the near post, save made by Lenny Pidgeley.

2:47

The ball is crossed by Shaun Whalley, Max Porter manages to make a clearance.

0:38

Karl Ledsham takes a outswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, David Pipe makes a clearance.

0:00

The match begins.

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