AARON Wildig’s early strike earned Newport County AFC a first away win of the season and inflicted a fourth successive 1-0 defeat on hosts Morecambe in League Two.

Captain Wildig scored the only goal of the game with County’s only shot on target, and some superb goalkeeping from Nick Townsend secured a first clean sheet of the campaign and sealed a third straight win for Nelson Jardim’s men.

The Exiles had chances to extend their lead in the first half, but it was a rearguard action for much of the match for a defence shorn of James Clarke due to injury.

That was the one change from last week’s 3-1 home win over Accrington Stanley as Kyle Jameson slotted into the back three.

And there was no Nathan Wood following his late deadline day loan move to Penybont.

Morecambe started well and immediately went in search of their first goal of the campaign.

Derek Adams’ team had two early attempts, from Callum Jones and former Wales under-21 star Gwion Edwards, blocked.

But it was County who made the breakthrough in the ninth minute when former Morecambe man Wildig forced goalkeeper Stuart Moore into a mistake, closing him down, winning possession and then passing calmly into an empty net.

Anthony Glennon then teed up Courtney Baker-Richardson, but the striker failed to hit the target from a tight angle on the left.

Baker-Richardson had another opportunity shortly afterwards when Jameson nodded on a free-kick and the forward sent a header hight and wide.

Edwards was the main threat for the hosts, and he went close with two attempts midway through the first half, narrowly firing wide with the first before forcing Nick Townsend into a save with his second.

There was a confrontation between Baker-Richardson and Edwards just after the half-hour mark that left the Welshman with a bloodied nose and both players with a yellow card.

But the Exiles couldn’t land the killer blow, and it was Morecambe who ended the first half on top.

They were nearly level before the break when a long ball forward from Rhys Williams found Edwards. He beat Anthony Glennon and Ciaran Brennan, but saw his first shot blocked by Matt Baker before Townsend kept out his second with a superb reflex save.

Jordan Slew then had a header blocked and Townsend denied Callum Jones before Hallam Hope fired just wide and County held on until the break.

Bobby Kamwa of Newport County and Luke Hendrix of Morecambe FCBobby Kamwa of Newport County and Luke Hendrix of Morecambe FC (Image: Magi Haroun/Huw Evans Agency)

The home side continued to make most of the running after the restart, with Yann Songo’o and Slew both failing to hit the target with half-chances.

Morecambe then had a goal ruled out for offside after Hallam Hope bundled in from close range.

Jardim sent on new loan signing Noah Mawene in place of Bryn Morris and the 19-year-old midfielder from Preston North End was straight into the action with an excellent covering tackle to deny the Shrimps a shooting chance, before picking up a booking soon afterwards.

Kieron Evans, another substitute, almost created a second in the closing stages but, after skipping past his man, his cut-back for Baker-Richardson was intercepted with the goal gaping.

It didn’t matter in the end, however, as the Exiles took three points with them on the long journey home.

On the game, County head coach Jardim said: "I thought the first 20 minutes was probably our best 20 minutes of the season and then we had to manage the game.

"We started losing a little bit of control and a point I have to be happy about... we had to work hard to keep a clean sheet and we managed to reach that goal.

"When you play away and you're up against a good club, well organised... and probably they deserved more as well, but I think we managed the game well, we suffered when we needed to and I said in the dressing room we've not only won three points but we've won as a team."

Morecambe (4-2-3-1): S Moore; D Tutonda (A Lewis, 75), J Stott, R Williams, L Hendrie; C Jones, Y Songo’o (T White, 90); J Slew (B Tollitt, 65), H Macadam (P Lewis, 65), G Edwards; H Hope (L Angol, 65)

Substitutes not used: H Burgoyne, R Millen

Booked: D Tutonda, G Edwards, P Lewis

Newport County (3-4-2-1): N Townsend; C Brennan, K Jameson, M Baker; A Glennon, B Morris (N Mawene, 60), A Wildig (C Evans, 90), S McLoughlin; B Kamwa (K Evans, 76) C Antwi; C Baker-Richardson

Substitutes not used: J Carney, L Jephcott, K Rai, N Sanca

Booked: C Baker-Richardson, N Mawene, B Kamwa, N Townsend

Referee: P Newhouse

Attendance: 2,724