THEY say charity begins at home and that was certainly the case at Newport Stadium (Spytty Park) yesterday as Newport County gifted Sutton United a 4-2 victory.

Any thoughts of turning 'Spytty' into a fortress were dispelled as County invited Sutton around for a Bank Holiday party and duly served up four goals on a plate to give their visitors a first victory of the season.

It took only eight minutes to gift-wrap the first when a long throw was flicked on by Craig Watkins on to the grateful boot of Andrew Martin in acres of space, and he coolly flicked the ball home to put Sutton one up.

Martin appeared for County in their pre-season friendly against Bristol City before being allowed to look elsewhere for a club, so perhaps County gave him the freedom of Spytty Park to appease their guilt for not keeping him.

County responded well and at times some of their football was pretty tasty, with Jason Bowen pulling the strings and Jamie Moralee lively.

So it was no surprise that they levelled after 20 minutes after a Moralee knock-on fell to Bowen who carved a pass into the path of Jonathan Coates, who slotted the ball home.

Within three minutes, County were 2-1 up after Moralee lashed home from close range and at that point it was almost too easy with Peter Nicholas' side stroking the ball around at will.

But two minutes before the break, County's benevolent side reappeared as the visitors were generously handed a couple of goals.

First a quick free-kick from Peter Fear caught Newport napping as it curled into the net and then, three minutes into injury time, he again terrified County with a free kick that outfoxed the entire defence and 'keeper Roger Freestone.

Everyone froze as the ball swerved across the goalmouth, bouncing off post and crossbar before Lewis Gonsalves popped up to gratefully nod the ball over the line.

You would think that would have been enough present-giving for one day but just two minutes after the re-start, County again showed their all too caring side by allowing yet another breach at the back.

This time Martin took advantage and crossed for his strike partner Watkins to head home comfortably.

The loss of Moralee and Scott Young, followed by Lee Phillips, all to injuries intensified the pain, but County did make an attempt at clawing the game back.

A trio of Kevin Aherne-Evans headers had to be scrambled off the Sutton goal-line and Coates saw a header tipped over the bar, but the damage had been done and, after all, charity-work can be pretty tiring.

The biggest sore point of the day was that a crowd of more than 1,000 forked out to cheer their side on but ultimately left disappointed as they had to endure the football equivalent of a soup kitchen.

Newport County: Freestone, Aherne-Evans, Phillips (Passmore 45), Davies, D Jones, Morgan, Bowen, Young (Williams 48), Moralee (O'Sullivan 46), Wilson-Denis, Coates. Subs: Thomas, G Jones.

Sutton United: Wilson, Gray, Booth (Olusesu 31), Corbett, Gonsalves, Brake, Fear, Honey, Watkins (Forrester 80), Martin, Akumoah. Booked: Brake (21 foul). Referee: I Scarr (Birmingham). Attendance: 1080.