Newport County sent out a Nationwide South message last night as they put full-timers Weymouth to the sword in a glorious 2-0 win at Spytty Park.

Jason Bowen and Carl Wilson-Denis netted to give County the points and thrilled boss Peter Nicholas challenged his side to continue in the same vein to mount a serious promotion push.

He said: "I told the guys after the game that is the standard they have now set. It is up to them to maintain it if they want to win a lot of games and do something in this division.

"This was all about Newport and it wasn't too harum-scarum. We had a lot of possession in the first half, without creating too many clear-cut chances.

"We rode it out after half-time and then pushed on. It is a massive result and I thought the whole back four and goalkeeper were outstanding. When you are playing big clubs and so-called favourites you have to perform and the lads have."

Weymouth boss Steve Claridge saw things differently. He said: "I didn't think we deserved to lose. But fair play to Newport, they played well."

FULL REPORT

STUNNING! There is no other way to describe Newport County's magnificent 2-0 slaying of Nationwide South big-guns Weymouth at Spytty Park last night.

County stamped out their promotion credentials last night and after playing Havant and Waterlooville off the park on Saturday and ending up with nothing, Peter Nicholas' men got what they deserved this time against the side many have tipped for automatic promotion.

A Jason Bowen penalty kick and a Carl Wilson-Denis goal at the death sent Spytty into raptures on a night of tremendous excitement.

The evening started brightly for County and they enjoyed some decent possession in the Weymouth half with Jason Bowen and Jonathan Coates having some joy down the flanks but it was Weymouth who almost opened the scoring.

An out-swerving Paul Buckle cross was parried by 'keeper Roger Freestone into the path of Ian Hutchinson but the onrushing fullback's shot blazed high and wide to let County off the hook.

It woke up the home side and as the half wore on, County began to slice open their big-spending visitors.

Jamie Moralee saw a glancing header slip agonisingly close and Coates had two efforts on goals, the first he took to long to pull the trigger and the second was blocked by a last-gasp lunge by Nathan Bunce.

Bowen then clipped the ball just wide before the interval but it was the visitors, aided by the wind, who started the second half with a storm.

County were under severe pressure and Kevin Aherne-Evans twice had to clear off his goal-line and 'keeper Roger Freestone had to claw away a Lee Philpott effort.

But Nicholas' side grabbed back the momentum led by heroic performances from Scott Morgan, Lee Phillips and Scott Young, who won County a penalty on 75 minutes.

An up and under ball by Phillips headed safely into Weymouth 'keeper Jason Matthews' hands but Nathan Bunce, who was lucky to be still on the field after a series of fouls, tugged on the shirt of the County captain and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Jason Bowen coolly slotted home and it was County who smelled blood in the closing spell. They were denied another penalty after an apparent hand-ball then Carl Wilson-Denis charged down the touchline and sent over a wicked low cross that was only just cleared by Steve Tully.

With the crowd roaring the side on, Wilson-Denis put the knife in to Weymouth in the final minute when he charged down a short back-pass and 'keeper Matthews' clearance cannoned off the striker's most intimate area and spun into the net.

County boss Peter Nicholas heralded his team and said: "They have now set the standard and we need to keep that up to win and lot of games and do well in this division."

Thoroughly merited, thoroughly entertaining, Newport County are on their Wey!

Newport County AFC: R Freestone, K Aherne-Evans, L Phillips, N Davies, D Jones, S Morgan, J Bowen, S Young (c), J Moralee, C Wilson-Denis, J Coates. Subs: A Thomas, N Passmore, A Williams, J Phillips, S O'Sullivan. Booked: S Young (85 foul).

Weymouth: J Matthews, S Tully, I Hutchinson (P Gibbs 87), N Bunce, M Bound (J Impey 90), D Waterman, P Buckle, S Wiliamson (L Charles 83), C Eribenne, L Philpott, L Phillips. Subs: M Barlow, P Pethick. Booked: N Bruce (49 persistant fouling), S Wilkinson (13 Foul). Referee: Martin Cassidy (Weston-Super-Mare).