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20th August 2002

We built on Saturday’s win at Cambridge with a clear cut victory over a side that have been known to take more than the odd point from Newport Stadium. The quality of the two second-half goals that sealed up the game provided an extra impetus to an evening that saw the team get a standing ovation at the final whistle.
 
Neil Davis was the first County player to threaten, his 7th minute header from Jeff Eckhardt’s cross being tipped over by Jason Matthews but, seven minutes later, Matthews was picking the ball out of the net. Scott Walker crossed and Neil Davis again went close before Matt Rose applied the final vital touch.
 
We continued to dominate and chances fell to Billy Clark, Neil Davis and Matt Rose without success and it was well into the second half when we scored the first of two stunning goals to clinch the three points. After an initial attack looked to have broken down, Jeff Eckhardt crossed and Garry Shephard swivelled to hit an unstoppable shot past Matthews.
 
With nine minutes remaining Mark Dickeson found the target, starting the move as well as ending it. Garry Shephard took on a defender, found Stuart James whose cross was accurate and was finished off by a powerful header.