Accrington Stanley 0 : 2 Newport County - Exiles up to sixth after win

Posted Saturday, March 28, 2015 by PA

Newport stole a march on their Sky Bet League Two play-off rivals and moved up to sixth by beating Accrington 2-0 at the Store First Stadium on Friday night.

The Exiles shaded a tight affair with two second-half goals, the first coming from Max Porter's cross - which Aaron O'Connor claimed he had deftly flicked under Scott Davies' body - before substitute Shaun Jeffers tapped in a second in stoppage time.

Chances were sparse in the first period but the hosts started with more intent as Miles Storey forced Dean Winnard into an important intervention and Andy Sandell flicked a header over the top.

Stanley were galvanised by a swerving Piero Mingoia effort from distance which Joe Day uncomfortably pushed away with one palm while Luke Joyce fired narrowly over with options either side of him.

Veteran stopper Tony Warner was on the bench for the hosts, who became the 40-year-old's 19th club on Thursday, but it was Newport's replacement stopper who saw action at the start of the second period when Day withdrew due to injury.

Jamie Stephens was tested immediately by a Sean Maguire effort which the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international put straight down the newcomer's throat.

Josh Windass and Matt Crooks both missed the target for Accrington before the visitors somehow squeezed a 66th-minute opener inside Davies' near post. The Fleetwood loanee had initially done well to stop Storey after Windass was robbed in midfield but Porter's cross then squirmed beneath Davies' body, with the keeper possibly deceived by a faint touch from O'Connor.

Terry Gornell fired straight at Stephens after pushing himself wide with his first touch and substitute Shay McCartan steered their best chance of an equaliser wide, and Accrington were hit again on the counter attack in stoppage time, Jeffers sweeping home into an empty net from Ismail Yakubu's square cross.