A POTENTIALLY tricky fixture became a picnic in the park at Spytty on Saturday as Newport County feasted on visitors Welling United in a 4-1 victory.

Peter Nicholas' men gorged on four goals, with Jamie Moralee and Scott Young each grabbing doubles, and the truth was, there was still a lot left in the hamper.

It took only four minutes to breach the Welling rearguard, when a great interception and run by Nathan Davies teed up Jamie Moralee and the striker rounded the 'keeper and clipped the ball coolly into the net.

The former Watford hitman has not exactly hit the goal trail for County, but he was soon to add another on 31 minutes.

A free kick was floated to the back post by the impressive Lee Phillips, and Scott Young got behind Welling goalkeeper Martin Brennan, who went on a bit of a wander.

Young nodded the ball across the line, and Moralee added the finishing touch to put County two up. Welling were a bit of a shambles, but on occasions they were proving something of a nuisance, and twice County stopper Roger Freestone had to look lively.

But again it was County who struck just before the break.

Carl Wilson-Denis, who was superb all afternoon, robbed two defenders and whipped over a pacy cross onto the head of the oncoming Scott Young.

The big midfielder promptly nailed his header into the top corner from fully 16 yards. Game over, and barely a bead of sweat worked up.

Any thoughts of a second-half fightback were dispelled two minutes after the re-start when Scott Young added his second and County's fourth after Jason Bowen flighted a corner and the big midfielder rose to plant another header through the traffic and into the net.

The visitors nabbed a consolation after the County rearguard decided to get generous. A floated cross tempted Roger Freestone off his line, but the big stopper had a bit of a flap and the ball broke to Danny Lye, who took an age to fire the ball home.

County were still coasting in barely second gear and Moralee was impressing. So much so that Welling centre-half Andy Arnott showed his appreciation by giving the striker a big bear hug in the penalty area. The referee wasn't impressed and pointed to the spot.

Morlaee placed the ball and looked to grab his hat trick, but for the first time all day 'keeper Brennan arrived on time and beat away the effort.

No harm done, which couldn't be said not long after when the "committed" Arnott, from the school of defending that preaches "if it moves, kick it, and if doesn't move, kick it harder", took a chunk out of Scott Young with a shocking two-footed tackle.

Even Welling boss Paul Parker was turning on the bath taps, expecting his defenders' early exit, but the referee only dished out a yellow card.

Young limped off with luckily only a dead leg. Lucky in that he will be fit for Tuesday's trip to Hayes, and also lucky for Arnott because the big Valleys playmaker wasn't able to chase him down the tunnel.

Newport County AFC: Freestone, Aherne-Evans, L Phillips, Davies, D Jones (Thomas 87), Morgan, Bowen, Young (Williams 83), Moralee (J Phillips 73), Wilson-Denis, Coates. Subs: G Jones, S O'Sullivan. Booked: Davies (55 foul). Welling United: Brennan, Lee, Wiles, Arnott (Street 78), Watts, Lye (Collins 69), Slatter, Spiller, Hughes, Booth, Lay. Sub: Day. Booked: Wiles (33 foul), Arnott (74 foul), Lye (63 foul), Spiller (30 foul). Referee: J Cordy. Attendance: 860.