County AFC 0 Worcester City 2

Newport County slumped to their first defeat in four league games as Worcester showed why they are king of the road.

Not only their below-par performance will concern Exiles boss Tim Harris, but the early departure of on-loan striker Lee Phillips with a hamstring injury plunges County into a major striker crisis.

Last season's top-scorer Garry Shephard is out for the rest of the season with a broken collarbone while 12-goal Martin Paul is sidelined with an ankle ligament problem - and the sight of Phillips hobbling off after just ten minutes of Saturday's Newport Stadium clash must have given Harris nightmares.

The County manager had no choice than to throw 19-year-old Raith Plant, who has just returned from a fruitful loan spell with Dr Martens Western League side Cinderford Town, onto the field as the Welshmen's only recognised striker.

It was only Plant's fifth Dr Martens Premier League outing this campaign and he was alongside Darren Ryan, who was moved up-front from his usual midfield berth, at first before he switched positions with midfielder Matt Rose

This mini-striker crisis is a major headache for Harris, but what will also concern the Newport boss is the fact his players were out-fought by a Worcester side, who are now eight games unbeaten away from St George's Park, but who didn't look that dangerous going forward.

However, John Barton had done his home-work on a County side that had looked superb in recent weeks. The well-organised Worcester ranks thwarted any attacking attempts by the team from Wales's newest city and they scored two goals at vital times in the match that on any other day would not have gone in.

A rare error from the usually superb Jeff Eckhardt five minutes after the interval gave the visitors the lead. Nathan Jukes' innocuous looking left-wing cross was headed past County keeper Pat Mountain by veteran Eckhardt - and that was the turning point.

County thought they should have had a penalty claim when Ryan was bundled over in the box by Leon Jackson but ref Ralph Davies waved away the protests, leaving Harris in the home side's dugout furious and it seemed as if the Exiles manager had a point.

Newport were chasing a result and Harris threw on new signing Michael Fowler in an attempt to unlock Worcester's stout defence - but within 30 seconds of Fowler's appearance County were two-down.

Adam Webster found space and time about 25 yards from goal, on the left-hand-side of the box, and he beautifully curled a right-foot shot into the far top corner with Mountain, just like the first goal, absolutely helpless.

It was Webster's third goal for City since his £7,500 move from Dr Martens Western side Bedworth.

Then County started to play the football the fans had seen over the last three games, but it was too late.

The Welshmen were thrown a life-line in the 68th minute when Ryan was sent tumbling in the box again, this time by Heeley, but this time the official pointed to the spot. Ryan picked himself up to take the penalty and his low shot looked to be heading in when Worcester keeper Danny McDonnell, diving to his left, got his finger-tips to it and kept it out. From then on it was never going to be County's day.

The penalty apart, they only had half-chances but no real goal-scoring opportunities throughout the whole match and lacked a cutting-edge.

Newport, who drop one place to 11th in table, will have to re-group quickly before their league clash at Cambridge City tomorrow.

Newport County (3-5-2): P Mountain; B Clark, J Eckhardt, S Benton; S Cowe, N Davies, D Robison (c) (M Fowler, 61), M Rose, S Walker; L Phillips (R Plant, 10), D Ryan. Sub not used: A Thomas Booking: S Benton 83 (foul)

Worcester City (3-5-2): D McDonnell; C Heeley (c), M Shail, M Burrow; A Davies, L Jackson, J Holloway, D Middleton, N Jukes; A Webster, S Hadley (P Carty, 79) Subs not used: J Hyde, D McFarlane

Referee: Ralph Davies (Brize Norton)

* In the picture: County's Steve cowe takes a tumble with Worcester's Leon Jackson.