Yeovil Town 1 Newport County 0

Jack Compton’s first half penalty was enough to seal all three points for hosts Yeovil Town at a sun-baked Huish Park.

Warren Feeney’s side failed to make the most of a promising start and they barely laid a hand on the Glovers after going behind.

Most of the Exiles players looked as if they couldn’t wait for the season to end but the manager believes they still need five more points to ensure they are safe from the threat of relegation.

And, just like their last outing at home to Accrington Stanley, they rarely looked like adding to their tally of 41 in this match.

The team sheet showed three changes from that Easter Monday defeat with Medy Elito back from injury, Tommy O’Sullivan returning from Wales under-21s duty and Souleymane Coulibaly finally cleared to make his debut.

Out went Scott Barrow, Yan Klukowski and Jake Gosling, who has returned to Bristol Rovers after the end of his loan spell.

Feeney might have wanted to make more changes, particularly after criticising the players’ work-rate last week.

But injuries to the likes of Andrew Hughes and John-Christophe Ayina prevented a wholesale shake-up.

The manager was, however, able to name seven substitutes after making do with just five last time out.

And notable among the players in the dugout was striker Lenell John-Lewis as he stepped up his recovery from a ruptured hamstring that had kept him out since December.

The Exiles started brightly and the changes seemed to have done the trick as they forced two early corners.

Scott Boden produced a clever turn in the box and his snap shot hit goalkeeper Artur Krysiak, who flapped at the resulting corner.

The hosts looked vulnerable at the back and the home fans started to get frustrated with their side as County knocked the ball about confidently on the pristine pitch.

But the match turned in the 15th minute when Danny Holmes was adjudged to have hauled down Tahvon Campbell in the box.

Compton fired the penalty straight down the middle to give the Glovers a lead they barely deserved and from that point on Feeney’s men seemed to feel sorry for themselves.

Their tails up, Yeovil looked to hammer home their advantage and Darren Jones had to be alert with a vital headed interception from Ryan Dickson’s cross to deny them a second on 25 minutes.

Campbell kept Holmes very busy and on the other flank the dangerous Compton caused problems with his whipped crosses.

County were insipid at best and only really woke from their slumbers in the closing minutes of the first half.

A good spell of possession ended with a jinking run from Alex Rodman.

He slipped the ball through to Boden but the top scorer’s shot on the stretch was blocked.

Just before that Coulibaly showed some fancy footwork to escape from a blind alley, deceiving three defenders before he too saw his effort cut out before it could test Krysiak.

After the break the Exiles showed some fighting spirit with Elito’s shot from distance dipping just over the bar.

And Coulibaly had his head in his hands after seeing his header rattle the woodwork but it wouldn’t have counted as the offside flag was up.

That was the last significant action for the Ivorian who will be frustrated by his lack of impact.

His departure meant a return to action for John-Lewis for the final 25 minutes and that was a welcome sight for 518 the travelling fans.

But there was little else for them to cheer as Yeovil held on pretty comfortably to leapfrog their visitors in the table.

A Leyton Orient leveller at York City means County are still a hefty 12 points above the bottom two but if they continue their current form they will soon be looking over their shoulders once again.

County: Day, Davies, Jones, Donacien (Meechan, 88), Holmes, Elito, Byrne, O’Sullivan, Rodman, Coulibaly (John-Lewis, 66), Boden

Subs not used: Green, Partridge, Barrow, Klukowski, Owen-Evans

Booked: Holmes, Rodman

Referee: Keith Hill (Brett Huxtable, 46)

Attendance: 4,063 (518 County)

Argus star man: Jones