FOR Newport County's beleaguered supporters, never has winning ugly been so beautiful.

Following on from a four-point haul in their previous two matches, County did everything to preserve their renaissance at Bishop's Stortford on Saturday and were worthy winners in a dull-as-dishwater contest.

Without question it was the most significant win of the season so far for County, and Craig Hughes' 18th-minute header gave them their first back-to-back Conference South victories since December 2004.

It was also the first time County have gone three matches unbeaten since that time, and the first time this season they have beaten the same side twice.

But this was not County dominating a side in as unexpected a manner as they did at Havant and Waterlooville and Yeading earlier this season, this was County taking a leaf out of the Sam Allardyce play-book - do the simple things well and grind out three points. Job done.

Astonishingly, what County are best at, at the present time, is defending!

For much of the season the County defence has been a leaking ship of Titanic proportions, but since the arrival of John Brough things have been transformed.

The key to County's deserved if dull win on Saturday was discipline. They defended with two strong banks of four marshalled excellently by Brough and Nathan Davies, and always looked to pass in a simple manner, either by maintaining possession or by playing longer balls into the channels.

By defending all over the park - manager Peter Beadle was constantly yelling at Hughes and fellow striker Matt Green to come deeper - County looked far less likely to concede, as they never allowed the game to become stretched.

So many times this season County have lost points (and usually the match) against teams who create few chances and pose little threat but are well organised.

On Saturday this scenario played out in reverse and it should give County fans great heart, this is not the same side that rolled over and died at Weymouth three weeks ago.

County made just one change from the side who beat Basingstoke 2-0 last Saturday, Geraint Bater returning to the side on the left of midfield in place of Andy Legg, who missed out with a chest infection.

Both sides started the match cautiously, though on eight minutes County fired a warning shot when Bishop's Stortford goalkeeper James Hussey clawed out a Hughes shot after Brough's firm header from an Ian Hillier free kick fell kindly for the striker.

However, Hughes' disappointment didn't last long as on 18 minutes he once again showed his predatory instinct to put County ahead. His goals have been vital this season and his overall contribution to the side improves week in, week out.

The goal was frustratingly simple for the home supporters, Paul Cochlin's long throw was flicked on by Green to the back post, where Bowen's well-weighted cross was met by Hughes' head to put County into the lead.

County defended so well for the remainder of the half (Hillier was excellent, Andrew Thomas acquitted himself well and Cochlin had his best game in an Amber shirt) that the home side only created one clear opportunity.

This came on 28 minutes after Hillier lost his footing, allowing Steve Morison a shot on goal, but Tony Pennock adroitly tipped the ball around the post.

From the resultant corner Rob Gillman headed onto the top of the crossbar as the home side appeared to be coming into the game.

However, such a good chance didn't fall to the home side again. In fact, there were few further chances for either side as County defended resolutely.

Gillman's strike partner 'Teletext striker' Roy Essandoh - who signed for Wycombe during their FA Cup run in 2002 after answering an SOS on Ceefax, only to score the winning goal in a shock 2-1 quarter-final win at Leicester - was utterly ineffective for the home side and was replaced on the hour.

Hillier and Bowen both blocked bravely in the second period during rare Stortford attacks and Bowen squandered a chance to make the game safe by drilling his 78th-minute snap-shot wide.

Other than that there was very little for the football purist to enjoy in a dull second half, though that won't matter a jot to County supporters, who can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Whisper it quietly, but a season of disappointment at best and turmoil at worst appears to be drawing to a potentially far happier conclusion for Beadle's side.

Bishop's Stortford: Hussey, Jones, Gwillim, Mitchell, Champion, Gillman, Ward (Maxwell 85), Jackman, Essandoh (Morgan 61), Morison, Martin. Subs not used: Thanda, Simpson, Young. Booked: Champion (foul, 24), Gillman (foul, 53), Maxwell (dissent, 90).

County: Pennock, Thomas, Cochlin, Davies, Brough, Hillier, Bowen, Williams, Green, Hughes, Bater (O'Sullivan 71). Booked: Cochlin (dissent 64), Green (foul, 81).

Referee: Carl Henry (London). Attendance: 370.