GOAL hero Garry Shephard committed himself to Newport County until the summer of 2005 last night before declaring war on opposition defences as the Exiles go hell-for-leather for Nationwide Conference status.

And as soon as Shephard, fresh from scoring twice against Swansea City in Tuesday's FAW Premier Cup quarter-final victory, put pen-to-paper on a two-year extension to his current deal, Newport landed a plum Premier Cup home semi-final tie with Second Division promotion hopefuls Cardiff City.

There are security concerns ahead of the Newport Stadium showdown - date yet to be confirmed - but club chairman Wallace Brown insisted the Dr Martens League, Premier Division, club would host the game at the 4,300-capacity ground if Gwent Police gave the thumbs-up.

Meanwhile, Shephard was crowing about pitting his talents against multi-million pound talented Cardiff. He said: "It's a very attractive game and everyone at the club can't wait to play them."

After signing his new deal, the 26-year-old striker, who has scored 53 goals in 118 starts for County, vowed: "You haven't seen the best of me yet."

Shephard insisted: "I wouldn't have signed if I didn't believe we are more than capable of achieving promotion to the Conference.

"Football League is the ultimate aim but we mustn't think about that at the moment, we need to get in the Conference first. We can't look too far ahead, we must concentrate on the first hurdle to cross and that's promotion.

"We know we've got the players capable of mounting a serious challenge for Conference football but we need to be switched on in every game.

"I know the Swansea game was a very big match but every league game should be like that. It was a good overall team performance, and if we played like that in the league on a consistent basis, we'd win most games."

Seventh-placed Newport are in with an outside chance of promotion this campaign but next season seems the more likely when the players settle into manager Peter Nicholas' style of football.

Shephard hit 26 goals in the 2000-01 season but last term was one he'd like to forget as he spent most of it on the sidelines with a serious shoulder injury - but the Welsh semi-professional international, adored by the County faithful, is a key player for Nicholas as he draws up his battle-plan for success.

"I had a talk with the manager and his ambitions match mine," said Shephard. "He's tactically very astute and I am only too happy to stay at Newport because I love the place."

Shephard signed for County in February 2000 from Merthyr Tydfil as the Martyrs gave Newport £3,000 and the player for midfielder Dean Clarke.

Nicholas and his assistant Glyn Jones are currently assessing their squad and offering contracts to those who they feel can assist them in their promotion quest.

Nicholas is desperate for eight of County's younger players - like Nathan Davies, Andrew Thomas, Ryan Ashington, Raith Plant - to go full-time next season and introduce eight more the following season.

Tried-and-tested part-timers who have good jobs outside of football - like Shephard, skipper Matt Rose and goalkeeper Pat Mountain - remain at Newport Stadium on a semi-pro basis.