JAMILLE Matt scored the only goal of the game 18 minutes from time as Newport County AFC edged a tight contest against Exeter City to claim a much-needed three points.

County’s first win in League Two since November 27 saw them close the gap on seventh-placed Forest Green Rovers to five points.

And it means they go into next week’s FA Cup fourth-round tie at Championship challengers Middlesbrough in much better shape after a miserable Christmas and New Year period in the league.

With Fraser Franks and Tyler Forbes both missing out, Regan Poole came straight into the starting XI on the right of a back and Mark O’Brien wore the captain’s armband as he was recalled.

They lined up in a back three with Mickey Demetriou, while Scot Bennett started in midfield alongside Tyreeq Bakinson as Matty Dolan rested his hamstring problem.

Bennett and Bakinson impressed in front of the defence, as did Dan Butler on the left, and Poole looked instantly at home after three-and-a-half years away from Rodney Parade.

It was an encouraging first 45 minutes all round for County, who caused Exeter plenty of problems without seriously troubling visiting goalkeeper Christy Pym.

Matt had the first real opportunity but his header from Robbie Willmott’s cross was straight at Pym.

Exeter took a while to get going but they went closest to scoring before the break when Dara O’Shea climbed highest to meet Nicky Law’s free-kick and his looping header looked to be heading in before Joe Day stretched out an arm to palm it to safety.

Demetriou then made up for losing the ball near the centre circle with a fine recovery and block to deny the lively Kane Wilson.

And Poole also did well to block a Law effort, but it was the hosts who nearly broke the deadlock just before the interval.

Amond chested a high ball down for Antoine Semenyo to hit a swerving half-volley from the edge of the area that just curled off target at the last moment with Pym struggling to get near it.

The second half started in end-to-end fashion with Willmott blazing a shot well over under pressure before Ryan Bowman’s dipping effort from 20 yards crashed back off the bar with Day beaten.

The increasingly influential Bakinson then saw a volley beaten away by Pym and Matt headed wide from a corner after Exeter skipper Jake Taylor had gone close with a snapshot at the other end.

County continued to attack. Semenyo’s header was tipped over the bar by Pym on 69 minutes and three minutes later the breakthrough finally arrived.

Demetriou made a nuisance of himself in the Exeter box from a Willmott free-kick and the ball dropped invitingly to Matt to slot in from close range for his 15th goal of the season.

After last week’s defeat at Crewe Alexandra, the Exiles could have been forgiven for trying to hold on to what they had.

But they kept up the pressure on the visiting defence and Amond went close with a glancing header from Willmott’s corner.

And, even when they did drop deep in the closing stages, Exeter failed to find a way through a determined defence.

What a difference a week makes.

County: Day; Poole, O’Brien, Demetriou; Willmott, Bennett, Bakinson, Butler; Amond, Matt, Semenyo

Subs not used: Townsend, Pipe, Neufville, Labadie, Dolan, Sheehan, Marsh-Brown

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Attendance: 3,791 (727 Exeter)

Argus star man: Bakinson