County 4 Cambridge 1

NEWPORT County finally showed a ruthless streak in front of goal last night to power their way back into the top six of the Blue Square South.

Not at their best against a decent Cambridge side with a habit of spoiling the Spytty Park party, the Exiles nevertheless were worthy winners in a decent contest.

It was striker Craig Hughes who really set the benchmark for his fellow strikers with a virtuoso performance, his brace taking him to 49 goals for the club.

It was heartening to see County control the contest for large spells despite not being at their best and the quality of their finishing was vastly improved on recent weeks.

They were shaky defensively and overly reliant on their (as ever) faultless goalkeeper Glyn Thompson, but looked a huge threat every time they moved into the final third.

While County lack a natural outlet when Julian Alsop doesn't play (he was suspended) they are able to break at great speed and that troubled the visitors time and time again.

Wingers Jason Bowen and Richard Evans both saw plenty of the ball last night and that is always an encouraging sign, while midfielder Lee Fowler flitted between being discouragingly average and absolutely class throughout.

Fowler has been something of an enigma this season and could be more consistent, but his sheer ability makes him perhaps the key ingredient in County's success.

His sublime finish last night came at the perfect time and he does seem to be growing into the role of midfield mainstay, allowing Bowen to play with a freedom that he relishes.

Disappointingly it took County a full 23 minutes to get going last night, the opening quarter of the game about as appetising as watching Chris Moyles sweat all over steak and chips while Gordon Ramsey fills time with profanities and clichés.

Thankfully for the Exiles Thompson was equal to the series of long range efforts the visitors created in that period and once County got going it was a matter of when, not if, they'd go in front.

Defender Lee Chaffey sliced over and Hughes fired across goal before the opener arrived on 26 minutes.

Decent possession football created room on the left for the overlapping Damon Searle and his drilled cross was turned in expertly by Hughes at the near post.

Hughes exploited space between the central defenders and right fullback on a number of occasions and on 27 minutes he rather shanked an effort in decent space from Fowler's quick freekick.

Midfielders Ben Bowditch and Josh Simpson forced Thompson into action again as County eased off the accelerator, but that man Hughes drew a top save from Ashley Timms with a quick shot on the turn.

County needed to up their game in the second period and they did just that, scoring three quality goals and surviving a dodgy five minutes.

They doubled their lead just after the break with a lovely team goal, Fowler finding Hughes who exchanged passes with Bowen before stroking home from eight yards.

Once again Hughes failed to turn his brace into a first County hat-trick after his 49th Exiles goal, though he came close with minutes remaining after a fine run and shot was saved.

He really lifted his team-mates though and it was important he did as they lost their composure just past the hour when the visitors scored.

Substitute Lee Roache looked offside by a distance as he raced onto Bowditch's ball and slotted home, but County merely compounded their own downfall.

They were so busy feeling hard done by and arguing with the officials that they were asleep as the visitors repeated the trick, Mark Dodds missing his clearance as Roach again raced clear.

This time he was onside and it was Thompson to the rescue, he got a vital hand to the ball and skipper Steve Jenkins bravely mopped up the mess.

Spytty Park was suddenly awash with nerves as the Exiles lost their way, but a moment of magic from Fowler soon changed that.

Evans' 72nd minute corner popped out to the diminutive midfielder and he curled a delicious effort into the top corner from 25 yards.

Cambridge knew they were beaten and striker Charlie Griffin - by this stage moved to the right to accommodate fans' favourite Jermaine Clarke - wrapped things up with a beautiful goal on 81 minutes.

Griffin collected fully 40 yards out and after slipping the ball past his marker he advanced and blasted the ball home from 25 yards.

This wasn't vintage stuff from the Exiles by any means - in front of their lowest league crowd of the season - but scoring four goals without playing brilliantly is most certainly an attribute of a team ready to challenge for promotion.

County: Thompson, Jenkins, Searle, Davies, Dodds, Hillier, Bowen (Clarke 77), Fowler (A Evans 81), Griffin, Hughes, R Evans Subs not used: Simpson, Ovendale, Jarman Booked: Searle (foul, 60) Cambridge: Timms, Bruce, Radcliffe, Chaffey, Theobold, Bowditch, Midgley, Simpson, Gash, Medley (Roache 46), Fuller Subs not used: Wales, Deane, Herbert Referee: Richard Martin (Weston) Attendance: 726