THE return of Max Porter was the cherry on top for Newport on Saturday as they dominated their former Conference South rivals Havant and Waterlooville.

The last time Newport played in North Portsmouth they were trounced 4-0, but times are much changed since their tussles in English football’s sixth tier, 20 games in ten seasons of Southern League and Conference South football now just a memory.

The Exiles are two weeks away from an historic return to Football League action against Accrington Stanley and on Saturday’s evidence they appear to be on the right track despite mounting injury concerns.

Defender Tony James and striker Christian Jolley have both sustained muscle injuries – Jolley’s is minor, James was forced off on Saturday and will be assessed today – while Aaron O’Connor is set for surgery and could miss six to eight weeks.

However, in comparison to Porter, that’s all small fry. He’s not kicked a ball for Newport in seven and a half months and his impressive performance from the bench – he wasn’t moving tentatively and didn’t appear to be lacking pace or sluggish in his nearly 30 minutes of game time – will warm the hearts of Newport fans everywhere.

But there was plenty to smile about for the hardy hundred or so Amber Army members who forwent barbecues, the Gower and other such delights to hit Havant on another balmy day.

The Exiles were dominant throughout and very impressive in glimpses. They were largely wasteful in front of goal, but spectators were also treated to a very, very special effort from David Pipe that few will forget. In broad terms, it was a satisfactory result with a performance to be encouraged by.

Manager Justin Edinburgh was certainly satisfied with what he saw. “I thought it was a good test for us, we played well, we moved the ball well, we defended well, put minutes in people’s legs, it’s an excellent workout for us overall and a good game as well, I thought.”

The Exiles controlled the ball throughout the first period, though the hosts should’ve led, Ollie Palmer missing a great chance to score from close range in what really amounted to their only effort in 90 minutes.

Newport saw Conor Washington come close before a counter-attack from a Hawks corner saw Byron Anthony start and then finish a breathtaking move, but he could only fire over as the half wore on.

But the Exiles did find one moment of real class, a pinpoint Pipe cross headed home by Lee Minshull.

After the interval it was a different story, the full-timers getting stronger and stronger and threatening to mount another big scoreline as they did at Taunton.

Goalkeeper Scott Bevan saved well from Mike Flynn twice and Andy Sandell, but he made a real hash of things when Sandell’s deep cross had him flummoxed, only able to carry the ball over the line.

It was a procession for Newport but not everything went for them, Tony James withdrawn with tightness in his hamstring that will be assessed today.

Pipe sealed things at the end, collecting the ball around 35 yards and then lashing home into the top corner of the net.

For Edinburgh, it was just the fillip required ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Reading in celebration of County legend Tony Gilbert, who retired last season.

“We are stepping it up, we don’t know a lot about German football but we know what sort of a gauge Havant is of where we are. It’s a decent test against a good side who finished strongly in the Conference South and now we step it up again against Reading and Villa, which will be tougher defensive examinations.”

County: Stephens, Pipe, Sandell, James (Willmott 62), Yakubu (Hughes 46), Anthony, Flynn, Minshull (Porter 65), Chapman, Crow, Washington (Zebroski 46).