Newport County 0, Basingstoke Town 1

ERNIE Howe's walking-wounded troops defied their predicament to beat Newport and complete their first double of the season.

David Ray's superb 25-yard strike, and a battling effort from a makeshift side, earned the victory and three valuable points that leaves Town in second place in the Nationwide Conference South league.

Before the game, Howe admitted his squad was down to the bare bones. He said he would have settled for a point, given Town's problems with getting results away from the Camrose.

The Town manager - suffering from mild flu himself - was missing Scott Smith, Liam Parrington and Jamie McClurg, while Jason Bristow, Scott Tarr, Neville Roach and Martin Whiddett put their bodies on the line and played despite injury and illness.

It meant inaugural starts in the Conference South campaign for Toby Sumner, Ricky Allaway and youngster Jamie Roach - but Howe also bravely went one step further when he decided to drop Cristian Levis to the subs' bench.

After the Argentinian's poor display at Thurrock on Monday night, Howe felt Levis did not have the battling qualities that he knew would be required at Newport from the outset.

Under the circumstances, Town turned in an outstanding performance. The visitors played with great heart and did what they have failed to do in away games of late - defend a lead.

Howe was delighted with both the effort and result.

Speaking after the game, he said: "We worked really hard for it and I'm pleased for the lads like Toby and Ricky, who've been very patient and haven't complained about not playing but who've come in today and done very well.

"It's been a long time since we had an away win - back in September when we beat Grays - so it's very pleasing to have got one again, especially with all the injuries and people missing.

"It's an important win too as it sends us into the demanding Christmas period with some confidence."

As the new line-up got to grips with each other, Town survived two early scares in the match. Jason Bowen headed wide from six yards and Carl Wilson-Denis also missed a great opportunity.

Town got into the game, but without creating anything of note, before goalkeeper Tarr was called upon to repel Wilson-Denis's low ball in Newport's promising three-on-three break in the 33rd minute.

Town subsequently grew in stature and striker Neville Roach had a great opportunity in the 43rd minute when he beat the offside trap and collected a through ball. Once inside the area, he forced goalkeeper Andrew Delve into a fine diving save to his right.

In a game of few chances for Town, it might have been a crucial miss, but then came Ray's injury time goal. Picking up a lay-off from Roach, the 19-year-old hit a great shot that found the bottom right corner.

Howe said: "I thought the 'keeper had it covered, but David's shot picked up pace off the surface and the 'keeper was slow to respond. Not that I'm complaining."

As Newport increasingly kept possession, Town had to defend, and they did so with gusto. There was a collective determination, and young Roach and Allaway combined well down the left flank, while captain Bristow led by example.

Sergio Torres - put clear by a Whiddett flick-on - was unlucky when his shot was tipped around the post on 71 minutes.

Then Tarr showed his importance as a key figure in Howe's team. In the first of two crucial saves, the 33-year-old got down smartly to his left to turn away Bowen's shot when the Newport striker was just 10-yards out.

Tarr then excelled himself deep into injury time when, at the very last second, he got his right hand to Bowen's low shot, which was heading for the bottom right corner, and tipped it wide for a corner.

Howe said: "It was an outstanding save. I really thought it was going in, but he got down very well."

Looking ahead, Howe said: "The win gets us right back in the chase, if we can make sure we do well against Maidenhead and hope Grays slip up at Thurrock."

Basingstoke Town: Scott Tarr, Brett Cooper, Neville Stamp, Jason Bristow, Ricky Allaway, David Ray, Toby Sumner, Sergio Torres, Martin Whiddett, Neville Roach, Jamie Roach. Not used: Nathan Stamp, Cristian Levis, Darren Spong, Liam Castle.