COUNTY boss Peter Beadle hailed his side for bouncing back from their worst performance of the season to stun Cardiff City with a thrilling penalty shoot-out victory at Ninian Park.

It was a very different Newport County from the one who crashed at Thurrock on Saturday who beat Championship Cardiff City last night.

The Exiles are now a single victory from a trophy and £100,000, Carmarthen or Llanelli awaiting in the FAW Premier Cup final.

With Lewes the visitors on Sunday, Beadle was quick to praise the players he absolutely slammed at the weekend.

He explained: "I am very proud. It was nice to bounce back from Saturday, it was the worst performance in my time here. Cardiff put out a very strong team, they are the premier side in Wales and we battled, rode our luck and played it through until the end.

"We got our goal with five minutes to go and I was thinking it would be the most dangerous time and they scored with a great finish.

"Penalties are a lottery, it takes a brave man to take a penalty, I know that. I credit all the boys who stood up, they were all great penalties, Damon's was unlucky because he hit it firmly and the keeper went the wrong way.

"But then Glyn (Thompson) comes up with the save and it was a massive relief, it gives us a huge lift."

Beadle is hoping the result will help his squad to achieve their goals.

"It could have a big effect on the rest of the season, at our level of football we are more than competitive," he said.

"I think we are the best team in the division, we're not top of the league, but I believe we can be and hopefully the players will see that. I know they've got it in them to do what they did last night every week.

"Going that extra inch is what makes the difference, the players showed excellent fitness, it was a problem when I got here but it isn't now."