Newport County moved four points clear at the top of the Blue Square Bet Premier after thrashing Cambridge.

Lee Minshull finished off from Aaron O'Connor's pass and Michael Flynn shot home from 25 yards before Tom Elliott pulled a goal back with a volley.

Andy Sandell's 20-yard free-kick restored Newport's two-goal lead and O'Connor made it 4-1 from close range.

Luke Berry scored from 20 yards for the U's but O'Connor's blaster and Michael Smith's close-range shot sealed it.

Newport, who held a one-point lead before the game, are now four points clear of second-placed Wrexham following the win.

Cambridge, who have won only three of their last 16 games, dropped to 20th, with only goal difference keeping them out of the bottom four.

County were 2-0 ahead after 17 minutes of the first half thanks to goals by midfielders Minshull and Flynn.

Elliot replied for Cambridge just before half-time but defender Andy Sandell stretched the home side's lead to 3-1 at the break.

O'Connor sealed the win for County with his brace of goals in the second half, despite Berry scoring United's second, before Smith completed the rout.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Newport County manager Justin Edinburgh told BBC Radio Wales:

"From start to finish, I thought we were excellent, played off the front foot, passed the ball well and scored some excellent goals.

"It was a banana skin for us, after back-to-back defeats here and our first league defeat against Woking, but this was a fantastic response from the players.

"They really deserved the victory but the only thing that disappoints me is the attendance for the game.

"I think to be top of the league and only have 1,700 people here takes the gloss off for me a bit because people in the city have to realise we need them to come and support us.

"If we are going to maintain this and stay at the top we need them to come through the door and support us."

Lineup, Bookings (2) & Substitutions (6)

Newport County

  • 40 Pidgeley
  • 05 James
  • 06 Yakubu Booked (Evans - 84' )
  • 02 Pipe
  • 04 Porter
  • 08 Minshull
  • 12 Swallow (Conor Washington - 78' )
  • 13 Sandell
  • 17 Flynn
  • 07 O'Connor (Thomson - 90' )
  • 20 Smith

Substitutes

  • 22 Perry
  • 14 Thomson
  • 16 Evans
  • 10 Louis
  • 25 Conor Washington

Cambridge United

  • 01 Hedge
  • 03 Jennings Booked
  • 04 Coulson
  • 05 Wylde
  • 12 McAuley
  • 06 Shaw
  • 08 Wellard (Pugh - 58' )
  • 18 Berry
  • 09 Gash (Hughes - 66' )
  • 10 Elliott
  • 28 Smith (Dunk - 46' )

Substitutes

  • 24 Ross
  • 11 Dunk
  • 16 Jarvis
  • 15 Pugh
  • 17 Hughes
Ref: Whitton
Att: 1,787

Match Stats

Shots

19 14

On target

14 10

Corners

7 8

Fouls

18 15

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +4:10 Full time

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

90:00 +3:32

Foul by Tom Elliott on Michael Flynn, free kick awarded. Lenny Pidgeley takes the free kick.

90:00 +2:43

Foul by Rory McAuley on Lee Evans, free kick awarded. Jake Thomson takes the direct free kick.

90:00 +1:49

Tom Elliott takes a shot. Lenny Pidgeley makes a save. Corner taken by James Jennings, Effort from the edge of the area by Liam Hughes goes wide of the right-hand upright.

90:00 +0:43 Substitution

Substitution Jake Thomson on for Aaron O'Connor.

89:11

Assist by David Pipe.

89:11 Goal scored

Goal - Michael Smith - Newport Co 6 - 2 Cambridge A goal is scored by Michael Smith from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Newport County 6-2 Cambridge Utd.

87:05

Aaron O'Connor challenges James Jennings unfairly and gives away a free kick. Centre by James Jennings, Josh Coulson takes a shot. Lenny Pidgeley makes a save. Corner taken by James Jennings from the left by-line, Lee Minshull manages to make a clearance.

87:05

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on James Jennings by Aaron O'Connor. The ball is crossed by James Jennings, Josh Coulson takes a shot. Lenny Pidgeley makes a save. Corner taken by James Jennings from the left by-line, clearance made by Lee Minshull.

86:39

Conor Washington concedes a free kick for a foul on James Jennings. Jonathan Hedge takes the direct free kick.

83:26

Lenny Pidgeley takes the direct free kick.

83:26 Substitution

Substitution Ismail Yakubu goes off and Lee Evans comes on.

83:26

Tom Elliott gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Lee Minshull.

79:13

Foul by Conor Washington on Rory McAuley, free kick awarded. Jonathan Hedge takes the free kick. Aaron O'Connor takes a shot. Blocked by James Jennings. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Andy Sandell, Harrison Dunk manages to make a clearance. Michael Smith takes a shot. Save made by Jonathan Hedge.

77:17

Inswinging corner taken by Andy Sandell from the right by-line.

77:17 Substitution

Substitution Conor Washington on for Ben Swallow.

77:17

Aaron O'Connor takes a shot. Blocked by James Jennings.

76:01

Michael Smith takes a shot. Jonathan Hedge makes a save. Corner from the right by-line taken by Andy Sandell, clearance by Harrison Dunk.

75:14

Shot from outside the box by Michael Flynn misses to the left of the goal.

74:17

Tom Shaw gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Flynn. Lenny Pidgeley takes the direct free kick.

73:02

Andy Sandell crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, clearance made by Luke Berry.

73:02 Booking

Booking Booking for James Jennings for unsporting behaviour.

72:45

James Jennings challenges David Pipe unfairly and gives away a free kick.

69:55 Goal scored

Goal - Aaron O'Connor - Newport Co 5 - 2 Cambridge Aaron O'Connor finds the net with a goal from inside the area to the top left corner of the goal. Newport County 5-2 Cambridge Utd.

68:21 Goal scored

Goal - Luke Berry - Newport Co 4 - 2 Cambridge Luke Berry scores a goal from just outside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Newport County 4-2 Cambridge Utd.

67:34

Free kick crossed left-footed by James Jennings from left channel, Andy Sandell makes a clearance.

67:34 Booking

Booking Ismail Yakubu is given a yellow card.

67:17

Ismail Yakubu challenges Harrison Dunk unfairly and gives away a free kick.

65:39

Lenny Pidgeley takes the free kick.

65:39 Substitution

Substitution (Cambridge Utd) makes a substitution, with Liam Hughes coming on for Michael Gash.

65:39

Tom Elliott is flagged offside by the assistant referee.

64:25

Michael Gash challenges Ismail Yakubu unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lenny Pidgeley restarts play with the free kick.

63:51

Lee Minshull challenges Luke Berry unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jonathan Hedge takes the free kick.

62:34

Inswinging corner taken by Tom Shaw, Michael Wylde takes a shot. Save by Lenny Pidgeley.

61:07

Assist by Lee Minshull.

61:07 Goal scored

Goal - Aaron O'Connor - Newport Co 4 - 1 Cambridge A goal is scored by Aaron O'Connor from close in low into the middle of the goal. Newport County 4-1 Cambridge Utd.

59:51

Tom Elliott fouled by Tony James, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Shaw takes the direct free kick, James Jennings takes a shot. Save by Lenny Pidgeley.

58:06

Michael Flynn gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom Elliott. James Jennings delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, David Pipe makes a clearance.

57:20 Substitution

Substitution Ricky Wellard leaves the field to be replaced by Andy Pugh.

55:52

Ben Swallow crosses the ball, clearance by Josh Coulson. Andy Sandell takes the inswinging corner, save by Jonathan Hedge.

54:28

Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Ricky Wellard from the right by-line, save by Lenny Pidgeley.

53:20

Harrison Dunk takes a shot. Save made by Lenny Pidgeley. Outswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Tom Shaw.

52:18

Foul by Ben Swallow on Luke Berry, free kick awarded. Jonathan Hedge takes the direct free kick.

47:56

Michael Wylde gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Smith. Free kick crossed left-footed by Andy Sandell, clearance by Michael Wylde.

46:28

Unfair challenge on Harrison Dunk by Michael Flynn results in a free kick. Michael Gash produces a strike on goal direct from the free kick.

45:09

The assistant referee signals for offside against Michael Gash. Lenny Pidgeley takes the free kick.

45:01

The referee gets the second half started.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Sam Smith goes off and Harrison Dunk comes on.

45:00 +0:30

Aaron O'Connor takes a shot. Save by Jonathan Hedge. Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Andy Sandell from the right by-line, clearance by James Jennings. Corner taken by Andy Sandell from the right by-line, Headed effort from inside the area by Ismail Yakubu misses to the left of the target. Save made by Jonathan Hedge.

45:00 +2:14 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to end the first period.

45:00 +0:30

Aaron O'Connor takes a shot. Save made by Jonathan Hedge. Corner taken left-footed by Andy Sandell, James Jennings manages to make a clearance. Corner from the right by-line taken by Andy Sandell, Ismail Yakubu takes a shot. Save by Jonathan Hedge.

44:55

Ben Swallow challenges Rory McAuley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Rory McAuley restarts play with the free kick.

44:36

The ball is sent over by Ben Swallow, Michael Wylde manages to make a clearance.

43:32

Lee Minshull gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Luke Berry. Direct free kick taken by James Jennings.

40:13

Michael Gash takes a shot. Blocked by Andy Sandell. Michael Gash takes a shot. Save by Lenny Pidgeley. Corner taken right-footed by Tom Shaw from the left by-line, Josh Coulson has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar.

41:56

Free kick awarded for a foul by Ricky Wellard on Lee Minshull. Free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

40:13

Michael Gash takes a shot. Andy Sandell gets a block in. Michael Gash takes a shot. Save by Lenny Pidgeley. Corner from the left by-line taken by Tom Shaw, Close range strike by Josh Coulson goes over the bar.

38:34

Ben Swallow has an effort at goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the left-hand post.

38:07

Unfair challenge on Michael Wylde by Michael Smith results in a free kick. Jonathan Hedge takes the direct free kick.

37:29

Rory McAuley challenges Max Porter unfairly and gives away a free kick. Lenny Pidgeley takes the free kick.

34:57

Andy Sandell concedes a free kick for a foul on Tom Elliott. Rory McAuley has a direct shot on goal from the free kick, Lenny Pidgeley makes a save.

34:14

Michael Flynn has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the left of the goal.

33:22

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Andy Sandell by Sam Smith. Free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

32:52

Ben Swallow takes a shot. Save by Jonathan Hedge.

29:32 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Sandell - Newport Co 3 - 1 Cambridge Andy Sandell finds the net with a goal direct from the free kick from just outside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Newport County 3-1 Cambridge Utd.

28:47

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Michael Flynn by Luke Berry.

28:10

Foul by Luke Berry on Ben Swallow, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Lenny Pidgeley.

27:03

Michael Gash provided the assist for the goal.

27:03 Goal scored

Goal - Tom Elliott - Newport Co 2 - 1 Cambridge Tom Elliott grabs a goal from inside the box high into the middle of the goal. Newport County 2-1 Cambridge Utd.

26:37

Michael Smith gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Michael Wylde. Jonathan Hedge takes the free kick.

23:01

Corner taken left-footed by Ricky Wellard from the right by-line, save by Lenny Pidgeley.

22:11

Max Porter takes a shot. Jonathan Hedge makes a save.

21:38

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Ben Swallow by Tom Shaw. Free kick taken by Andy Sandell.

19:59

Effort on goal by Aaron O'Connor from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.

19:23

Tony James fouled by Sam Smith, the ref awards a free kick. Lenny Pidgeley restarts play with the free kick.

16:56 Goal scored

Goal - Michael Flynn - Newport Co 2 - 0 Cambridge Michael Flynn scores a goal from long range to the top right corner of the goal. Newport County 2-0 Cambridge Utd.

15:18

Assist by Aaron O'Connor.

15:18 Goal scored

Goal - Lee Minshull - Newport Co 1 - 0 Cambridge Lee Minshull finds the net with a goal from deep inside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Newport County 1-0 Cambridge Utd.

13:37

Foul by Andy Sandell on Tom Elliott, free kick awarded. Ricky Wellard crosses the ball, Header from close in by Sam Smith misses to the right of the goal.

12:49

Max Porter challenges Michael Gash unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jonathan Hedge.

12:32

Max Porter takes a shot. Blocked by Luke Berry.

9:56

Inswinging corner taken by Ricky Wellard from the right by-line.

9:11

The ball is delivered by Michael Flynn.

6:52

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Berry on Michael Smith. Free kick crossed left-footed by Andy Sandell from left channel, James Jennings makes a clearance. Inswinging corner taken by Andy Sandell from the right by-line, Luke Berry makes a clearance. Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Smith on Josh Coulson. Direct free kick taken by Jonathan Hedge.

6:00

The referee blows for offside against Sam Smith. Lenny Pidgeley takes the free kick.

4:27

Tom Elliott sends in a cross.

2:05

Free kick awarded for a foul by Aaron O'Connor on Michael Wylde. Direct free kick taken by Jonathan Hedge.

0:00

The referee starts the match.

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