A RARE goal from Scot Bennett was enough to see off champions Lincoln City on a blustery afternoon at Rodney Parade and keep Newport County AFC on course for the League Two play-offs.

Bennett slammed in his second of the season and his sixth in a County shirt after just seven minutes and he will rarely have scored a more important goal for the Exiles.

With the teams above them also winning, it means Michael Flynn’s men remain 11th in the table – two points behind seventh-placed Exeter City.

But Tuesday’s game in hand at home to Oldham Athletic could see them move into the play-off positions with one game to go – at Morecambe next Saturday.

Jamille Matt and Joss Labadie were still missing for the Exiles so Flynn made just one change from the 0-0 draw at Macclesfield Town with Ben Kennedy replacing Harry McKirdy.

Kennedy had impressed as a substitute on Monday and he was rewarded with a starting spot as a support striker alongside Padraig Amond.

The Northern Irishman began brightly and his deflected shot fell perfectly for his strike partner in the second minute, but Amond’s hooked volley was off target.

County didn’t have to wait long for the breakthrough, however, and it was a brilliantly-worked move that gave them the lead.

Matty Dolan played a clever ball inside Lincoln right-back Neal Eardley for Amond to race onto and the Exiles top scorer turned provider as he cut the ball back from the byline for Bennett to crash it in off the bar from seven or eight yards.

It was a super start, but the champions soon showed their quality and they dominated the remainder of the first half.

Mickey Demetriou saw a fierce drive well saved at his near post by Josh Vickers and Kennedy also tested Lincoln goalkeeper after half an hour, but otherwise it was one-way traffic.

Demetriou, Mark O’Brien and Regan Poole had to be at their resolute best to deal with the twin towers of John Akinde and Matt Rhead and the long throws of Harry Toffolo proved effective.

Mark O’Hara had three chances in the opening 12 minutes, hitting one straight at Joe Day before blasting over and then seeing a third effort deflected behind by Demetriou.

Michael O’Connor shot straight at Day and Harry Anderson’s effort was too high after both Akinde and Rhead had won knockdowns in the box.

Akinde crossed for a lunging Anderson but he couldn’t quite connect with the goal gaping.

Akinde then chested the ball to Rhead, who sliced his volley over the top from 20 yards.

Danny Cowley replaced Rhead with the more mobile Shay McCartan for the second half and Bruno Andrade and Tom Pett were also introduced as they chased the game.

But it was a much more even contest with County constantly threatening to claim the crucial second goal.

Robbie Willmott nearly got it with a wind-assisted free-kick from the left touchline that almost beat Vickers from 40 yards.

Poole cross from the right was met by a diving header from Josh Sheehan that sailed wide and Amond was denied by Vickers before Ade Azeez replaced the excellent Kennedy.

There was one major scare when Sheehan was robbed on the edge of his own box with four minutes remaining, but McCartan slashed his shot wide and County held on for a vital three points.

County: Day; Poole, O’Brien, Demetriou; Willmott, Sheehan, Bennett, Dolan, Butler; Kennedy (Azeez, 75), Amond

Subs not used: Pipe, Bakinson, Marsh-Brown, Randall, McKirdy

Referee: Paul Marsden

Attendance: 4,605 (788 Lincoln)

Argus star man: Kennedy