Newport were desperate for three County League points and it showed with a gritty, ugly, display that finally had a happy 3-1 ending against Wem.
The old chestnut of ‘players missing again’ was certainly the case as all three keepers were out for various reasons, leaving Newport no choice but to play Phil Coutts between the sticks.
Young Elliot Stevens was the only sub and he replaced Lance Chidlow after he had ran himself into the ground.
Paul Fleming made his long-awaited debut and capped his colossal performance with a fine goal on 14 minutes.
After O’Neil Lewis’s first attempt was blocked, Fleming lived up to his nickname, Flash, and rammed the ball home before you could blink.
Wem bounced back when a ball over the top beat the defence for the only time in the game.
Coutts swept up but the clearance went straight to Wem’s right winger, who spotted an opening and scored with a long range lob.
Newport survived a penalty shout before regaining the lead in the 35th minute.
A through ball from captain Glen Price went to the quick feet of Simeon Lee. A neat chip over the advancing keeper found the far corner and Boro were back in the driving seat 2-1 at half-time.
For the first 20 minutes of the second half Newport dominated and were unlucky when a cross shot from Jason Clare skimmed the crossbar.
But as the last quarter loomed, Wem sensed nervousness and piled on the pressure.
Centre backs Price and Flemming stemmed the flow and restricted Wem to shooting from distance.
A late goal was always on the cards for one team as Wem gambled for the equaliser throwing men forward – but it was Newport who found the net again with a quick counter. It came when Coutts gathered a shot and instantly fed Lee down the right flank.
His accurate pass found livewire Paul Frost who made no mistake with a deadly left foot finish from 18 yards, much to the delight of his teammates.
With the VFestival over and holidays soon to follow suit, Newport hope to soon get back to a settled squad and move up the league.
Newport Borough play hosts to Shifnal Town Reserves in their next league fixture tomorrow, kick off 3pm.
