TIM Harris paid glowing tributes to his make-shift strike-force last night as they helped Newport County to their fourth 2-1 win in five matches against struggling Cambridge City at Milton Road.

The Exiles boss was forced to throw veteran centre-half Jeff Eckhardt and midfielder Matt Rose up-front as they front-line threesome of Garry Shephard, Martin Paul and Lee Phillips is ravage by injury.

Harris said: "Jeff and Matt were thrown up-front because of my lack of attacking options and they showed the commitment and enthusiasm that is an example to any young player.

"We battled well and deserved the win. It was good that we bounced back after Saturday's home defeat to Worcester City and played some good football in very heavy conditions."

The 2-1 win - thanks to a Scott Walker penalty and a late strike from Rose - restored the Welshman's place in the Dr Martens top ten. It was the first match of their tough programme of four away games in 11 days.

But County got off to a bad start as, in the first move of the match, Matt Beall fired Cambridge in front just 25 seconds after the kick off!

Penalties were County's downfall on Saturday and they spurned a similar chance to immediately level matters last night. A third minute challenge on Darren Robison produced the spot kick but skipper Robison saw Cambridge goalkeeper Matt Nurse parry his effort. The ball came back out to Robison but a second strike was also stopped by Nurse, the 'keeper then making it a hat trick of saves from the same chance when he denied Steve Cowe's final follow up.

County had first half chances with Eckhardt, Walker and Cowe all threatening but Cowe had the best chance just after half-time when he was put clear, went past a defender but somehow shot wide.

The equaliser came on 59 minutes, this time a penalty not only being given but converted as well. Eckhardt, a problem combatant for the opposition defence to cope with, was fouled in the Cambridge area and Walker fired home the spot kick and notched up his fifth goal in seven starts. It was a case of third time lucky after Robison's earlier miss and Darren Ryan's saved effort against Worcester on Saturday.

It was the spark County needed to grab the full three points, Robison immediately responding with a rasping effort just wide and a home defender clearing a Nathan Davies shot off the line.

The winners came just five minutes from the end when Matt Rose brought the ball through midfield, played a marvellous one-two with substitute Darren Ryan and crashed the ball past a helpless Nurse. Cambridge applied some late pressure but County's defence, in which Andrew Thomas successfully partnered Billy Clark, held firm.

Cambridge City: M Nurse, T Wooding, R Skelly, J Wignall, C Vowden, M Beall, M Fox, J Challinor (S Thacker 88), K Wilkin (R Nightingale 71), L Gutzmore, A Wilde. Sub: S Holden. Bookings: (J Challinor (44-foul), T Wooding (59 dissent).

Newport County: P Mountain, D Robison, S Benton, B Clark, A Thomas, N Davies, M Rose, S Walker, J Eckhardt, M Fowler (D Ryan 82), S Cowe. Subs: R Edwards, R Jones. Bookings: N Davies (32-foul), M Rose (51-foul), S Benton (86-foul). Att: 477. Referee: Michael Bull (Chelmsford)

Cwmbran Town will play Haverfordwest County in the League of Wales this afternoon (4pm) at Cwmbran Stadium.