Newport County AFC 3 GRANTHAM 2

SPORT is clich ridden, and there is one adage that rings truer than most - and that is 'you only get out what you put in.'

Newport County proved that with a set-piece demolition of Grantham Town at Spytty Park on Saturday.

All three of County's scores were from routines planned beforehand on the training field - and it's that preparation and attention to detail which is paying off for Peter Nicholas' men.

Since the former Welsh international took charge, Newport train three times a week - and you can see the difference on the pitch.

Movement is better, passing is crisper, defence is stronger and players look, in the main, sharper.

County goals one and two came in three first-half minutes from free-kicks. Firstly veteran centre-half headed home on 37 minutes before Garry Shephard slid the hosts into a 2-0 half-time lead.

Gary Bull scored a brace for the visitors either side of an Andrew Thomas strike for Newport, who shut-up-shop well in the final ten minutes.

County were without injured ten-goal hitman Neil Davis, Shephard was the lone figure up-front with young Raith Plant and new loan signing Ryan Ashington supporting him.

But Nathan Davies was back in the centre of park - and how. The young Welsh semi-pro midfielder was, along with his skipper Matt Rose, covering every blade of grass.

Left-back Walker, 22, continues to improve after a jittery run of games and it was the former Exeter City youngster who went close just before the half-hour when his free-kick flashed past Mario Ziccardi's left-hand post.

Town striker Stuart Wilson had a shot blocked by Thomas minutes later and, at the other end, Plant tested Ziccardi's reflexes with a 20-yard rasper. But Ziccardi's next action was to pick the ball out of his net after Eckhardt out-jumped the Grantham defence to head Walker's free-kick looping over the goal-line.

Then, three minutes later Shephard steamed in to ram home his third goal in Newport Stadium outings under new boss Nicholas.

That strike made Shephard Newport County AFC's third-highest goal-scorer on 48 goals, overtaking Lee Brown and behind Chris Lilygreen (93) and Karl Bayliss (50), and was the Exiles' 950th league goal in their 13-year history.

Town were thrown a life-line when Ashington bundled over Jason Minett on the hour-mark and Bull smashed home the spot-kick.

But within ten minutes Newport's two-goal advantage was restored. Fowler's long right-wing corner was missed by Grantham keeper Ziccardi and Thomas was on hand at the back post to head into the corner.

However, it was backs against the wall time for the Welshmen in the final ten minutes as the hosts failed to clear their lines in the 79th minute and Grantham frontman Wilson found his partner in crime Bull who fired past Mountain from 18 yards.

Nicholas' honeymoon period continues with an unbeaten start (three wins and two draws) in meaningful competitions. And the result moves Newport up to eighth spot in the Dr Martens Premier League.

l Newport County youth kept pace with the leaders of the South West Counties League, beating Salisbury Town 3-0 at Trefforest on Saturday. Strike duo Andrew Hammett (2) and Ashleigh Gittings scored the goals.

* Newport County's Christmas Carol service will be held at St John's Church in Maindee on Thursday at 7.30pm.

Newport County (4-5-1) P Mountain; J Perry, J Eckhardt, A Thomas, S Walker; R Plant, M Fowler, M Rose (c), N Davies, R Ashington; G Shephard

Booked: Perry 23 (foul)

Grantham Town (4-4-2) M Ziccardi; I Wilkins (J Neil, 75), D George, D Dye; J Minett (R Ranshaw, 70), L Marshall (D Hallows, 88), B McDaid, D Gilbert (c); G Bull, S Wilson

Attendance: 571