THE Royal Gwent Hospital has been swamped by a number of patients claiming to be suffering from a disease that has not been seen in Newport County fans for some time - optimism.

As County strolled to a 5-1 slaughter of Wimborne at Mendalgief Road YMCA, the number of fans suffering from this rare affliction rose again, and if this continues there is a danger that supporters will get almost literally carried away.

Peter Nicholas' side have gone from strength to strength with each passing game, and this latest offering did nothing to dampen the belief that County will be real contenders in the Nationwide Conference South this season.

This was a match that they utterly dominated from start to finish. Granted, the opposition did not look too clever, but some of the periods of possession and pressure were a pleasure to watch.

Jason Bowen, the ink still drying on his County contract, is a player who is a delight to behold.

The poor Wimborne full back Nick Plant was turned so many times on Saturday he was left in a granny knot, and on more than one occasion you had to feel for him and be thankful that he did not lose his rag completely and simply pick the diminutive Bowen up and throw him over the barriers.

County were minus Scott Young, Nathan Davies, Kevin Ahern-Evans and captain Gary Lloyd, who is recovering from a small operation on his nose, but Newport were still streets ahead of the visitors.

In the first half legendary stopper Roger Freestone could have nipped to Tesco and done his weekly shopping and no-one would really have noticed.

By half-time hitman Carl Wilson-Denis had helped himself to a very tasty double. The first came after he made a crisp turn and fired the ball low into 'keeper Stewart Kearn's near post, and the second coming after he beat the offside trap, and the 'keeper then kept his composure to curl the ball over the last defender and into the net.

The second period saw Peter Nicholas unleash his youngsters, with John Phillips, Sam O'Sullivan, Tom Hooper and 16-year-old Chris Leek being introduced, but County continued to out-pass and out-manoeuvre their opponents.

O'Sullivan made it three with a low rasper, then Neil Passmore, who deserved a goal after some very impressive pre-season performances, added a fourth when he cheekily nodded home the goalwards rebound of an O'Sullivan shot.

Wimborne got one back, a bit out of the blue, when Scott Arnold caught out Delve in County's goal at the near post, but Jonathan Coates, who had a very productive afternoon, grabbed another one at the death.

Another good runout, another good display.

Tougher tests lie ahead, but if County can take this form into the start of the new season, the outbreak of optimism may be in danger of becoming an epidemic.