CHAMPIONS Newport County moved a step closer to being record breakers last night with a win that relegated rivals Weston at Woodspring Stadium.

The Exiles have now powered to 97 points and require just one win in their remaining three games to become the first side to top 100 points in the Conference South.

On a night where the hosts where fighting for their lives in the bottom three of the Blue Square South, County were on the front foot from the first minute when the hosts were reduced to ten men and controlled from there on in.

County boss Dean Holdsworth finally had to concede with one of his injured amber army, skipper Gary Warren’s persistent problem in both groins, which will require surgery, meaning he was unable to feature.

In his absence returned Paul Cochlin and for the giant central defender it was a case of Friends Reunited.

Cochlin was given the task of looking after Weston striker Jermaine Clarke, who scored twice and got sent off at Weymouth on Saturday.

If the name is familiar, it should be, Clarke spending over half a season at Spytty Park in Peter Beadle’s final season, a key component in the squad that was just one game from reaching the playoffs and obviously doing enough in that time to impress Andy Gurney, then a County player, now Weston manager.

It’s a similar bun fight to earn a slot in the top five this season, but thankfully not an issue for County whose only concern is to what degree their tenure as champions is remembered.

On 94 points before the game, the Exiles knew victory would take them within a solitary point of Grays Athletic’s Blue Square South record, the boss selecting a strong side as a consequence, Scott Rogers returning to the line-up and Dave Gilroy given another chance to to impress at a ground where he was nothing short of prolific in a loan-spell earlier this term, scoring seven in six for the Seagulls.

The Exiles have been in some ding-dong clashes here in the past couple of years and, boy, did we get a hot start last night, Weston reduced to ten men within ninety seconds.

It was an exquisite ball from Charlie Henry that did the damage and Dave Gilroy sprinted clear, skipper Mike Green tugging his shirt just on the edge of the area.

Referee Mr Bromley made the right call in producing a red, Green was the last man, but I could spend hours moaning about how outdated and unfair this ‘last man’ ruling is becoming because the punishment here far outweighed the offence. The freekick wasted by County.

The Exiles looked to press home their advantage, Paul Bignot forcing Kevin Sawyer to save before another contentious moment, Craig Reid’s splendid volley ruled out after the linesman flagged for offside against Paul Bignot, who crossed superbly, the officials taking about seven-and-a-half weeks to make up their mind.

No matter, because on 23 minutes County earned another freekick, ideally suited to a right footer and Charlie Henry curled home a stunning effort from 25-yards, leaving Sawyer grasping for thin air.

Much like in Weston town centre it was all one-way traffic, County doubling their advantage on 31 minutes when Henry slipped a delightful ball through that Craig Rand failed to cut out, man of the moment Gilroy stealing in and firing home across Sawyer from just inside the penalty area.

Weston were rarely in the County half but did manage a great chance just before the interval, a deep freekick not properly cleared allowing Clarke to fire a shot from close-range, but Glyn Thompson denied him expertly.

Still County came though, Henry within a whisker of scoring their third in stoppage time, Sawyer getting fingertips to his chip to avert the danger, the final chance in another splendid 45 minutes from Newport.

Could they keep it up? Course they could! Just two minutes into the second half and it was three, Paul Cochlin bundling home from close range after Henry’s corner, Cochlin’s original header well saved by Sawyer.

Weston desperately needed a lifeline and it surprisingly arrived on 54 minutes, Callum Hart’s cross well turned home by substitute Jake Harris for 3-1 and just maybe, game on.

However, the hosts couldn’t take any momentum from their goal despite their lively substitutes’ best efforts and with twenty minutes remaining the Exiles killed the contest.

Kerry Morgan’s long throw was headed back into the danger zone by Danny Rose and Reid shrugged off his marker and turned to fire home a richly deserved goal from 12-yards. It was no less than County’s number nine deserved for a performance where he was the conductor of the Newport County symphony, producing a masterclass in unselfish, intelligent forward play.

Reid and man-of-the-match Henry were replaced with 15 minutes left and the game won, substitutes Ben Hunt, Takumi Ake and Rose coming close to scoring the Exiles’ fifth in the final moments before Morgan drilled wide following a fabulous team move.

The Exiles were rampant, Morgan’s long-range drive brilliantly saved by Sawyer who also denied Rogers as County threatened to post a cricket score, ultimately settling for four thanks to Sawyer’s impressive work.

Weston: Sawyer, Green, Hart (Ford 55), Cleverly, Rand, Evans, Grubb Mullings, Clarke (Burnell 63), Mawford (Harris 46), Fortune.

Subs not used: Gurney, Hodrien.

Booked: None. Sent off: Green (professional foul, 2)

County: Thompson, Bignot, Collins, Turk, Cochlin, Todd (c), Rose, Rogers, Reid (Hunt 76), Gilroy (Morgan 66), Henry (Ake 76).

Subs not used: Giles, Blackburn.

Booked: None

Referee: Adam Bromley (Plympton)

Attendance: 807

Argus star man: Charlie Henry