NEWPORT County produced a counter-attacking masterclass in Cambridge on Saturday, gaining three points that completed their very own version of the Great Escape.

After a season of woe and worry that has had even the most dedicated of supporters reaching for a noose at some point, County ended any lingering concerns about relegation from the Conference South with a performance that summed up their wonderful revival.

County now hold an unsurpassable points advantage over Hayes and Carshalton, who are left to battle it out next Saturday to see who avoids joining Maidenhead United in the Southern League next season.

County have avoided defeat in eight of their last nine fixtures, picking up 20 points out of a possible 27 in a sprint to the safety line that would have made Linford Christie wince.

Twice this season, after a defeat at Carshalton in January and after a thumping at Weymouth at the start of March, County hit rock bottom of the Conference South and supporters began calling for manager Peter Beadle to be sacked.

But now is the time to reflect on the enormous contribution Beadle and his assistant, Scott Young, have made in keeping County up. They are hugely popular with the players (and now supporters) and have got the team believing in themselves again.

It is easy to forget that when Beadle took charge County had lost ten games on the spin, but now there is a renewed confidence and vibrancy about the side that surely suggests a repeat of the last two seasons - dreadful relegation dogfights to the death - will not be an issue next time out.

Beadle is the first to praise and defend his players, but now is the time for the Newport County board, who themselves have made giant strides this season, to give a categorical backing to Beadle that he will be at the helm next season, allowing him to plan accordingly.

The Argus understands Beadle will be asked to stay on as manager having secured safety, which on the evidence of the last three months can only be a positive thing.

County were given a tough test by a Cambridge outfit just outside the playoffs, and for the opening 30 minutes the home side were completely in charge.

Dangerous wing man Dale Binns forced Tony Pennock to save smartly on three minutes, before Craig Dobson missed a golden chance on six minutes after lovely work by Binns and Paul Booth created an opening.

Dobson did a lot better on 15 minutes after a wonderful Cambridge move, his dipping 25-yard volley just brushed the top of the crossbar.

Two minutes later and the home side again nearly scored, Binns recovered his own deflected cross and flashed a volley inches over the bar after Jason Bowen was caught in possession.

Five minutes later Simpson's curling effort from 25 yards was inches past the far post as County tried in vain to batten down the hatches.

But football can be a cruel game and Cambridge, who deserved at least a 1-0 advantage, found themselves 2-0 down within three frantic minutes after County hit them with two superb counter-attacking goals, proving the old adage that you must take your chances.

The first came on 32 minutes. Sam O'Sullivan broke with pace and purpose, keeping his composure even when defender Lee Chaffey tackled him.

O'Sullivan's refusal to give up the cause saw him win the ball back, spreading the play to Nathan Davies, who teed up Craig Hughes, who guided the ball into the bottom right-hand corner of the net from just outside the area.

Two minutes later and it was 2-0. This time Bowen broke at great pace and his square ball found Gary Fisken 25 yards out, the midfielder taking one touch and looking up before curling a delicious effort past home stopper Danny Naisbitt.

It was a killer blow for a Cambridge side clearly bereft of confidence, they never recovered and never looked like getting back into the game.

Beadle's charges didn't sit on their lead in the second half, they didn't have to, each player knew his role and they defended astutely, typical of the way the side has defended for the past two months.

Much praise has been thrown the way of John Brough, the defender is a colossus for County and every effort should be made to convince him to continue commuting from his Ipswich home next season.

Ian Hillier was also magnificent once again - he is surely nailed on to be the player of the season - and the improvement in full backs Paul Cochlin and Andrew Thomas has been phenomenal.

With the back four working as a unit and Davies and Fisken dominating in midfield, County comfortably held out in a dull second period that produced virtually no goal-mouth action at either end.

It was another marvellous day for the travelling County supporters, who sang for the entire 90 minutes, and how sweet their long journey home must have been, safe in the knowledge that Newport County will be playing Conference South football next season.

Cambridge: Naisbitt, Pope, Chaffey, Fuff, Langston, J Simpson, Dobson (Hughes 71), Molesley (Blanchett 74), R Simpson (Lockett 82), Booth, Binns. Subs not used: Calton, Southon. Booked: Pope (foul, 44).

County: Pennock, Thomas, Cochlin, Davies, Brough, Hillier, Bowen, Fisken (Williams 90), Green (Prosser 90), Hughes, O'Sullivan. Subs not used: Bradley, Bater, Bailey. Referee: Darren Brockwell (Northampton). Attendance: 507.