Andrew Thomas was the unexpected goal-hero for Newport County last night as his double-strike earned the Exiles their first win in seven games.

But County, 3-1 victors over Dr Martens Premier League rivals Chippenham Town at Newport Stadium, should have put the game to bed before the 19-year-old centre-half saved their blushes.

They squandered glaring goal-scoring opportunities galore before Thomas headed two second-half efforts.

Neil Davis opened Newport's account in the 21st minute, heading home Mike Fowler's left-wing free-kick - but the former Aston Villa striker missed two sitters later on.

As Thomas showed County's strikers the way to do it, it was his fellow defensive colleague Jeff Eckhardt that provided the ammunition.

Richard French's left-wing corner just four minutes after the break was headed back across the six-yard-box by veteran Eckhardt for Thomas to nod home from five yards.

Then Eckhardt retrieved a long corner from Fowler and whipped the ball into the danger zone and Thomas bundled it over the line with just under 20 minutes on the clock to condemn league new boys Chippenham to only their second defeat of the season.

And County chief Harris, whose side rise two spots to 11th in the table, admitted: "I'm absolutely delighted, results are everything.

"We've been on a dreadful run but we are now only three points behind Chippenham who have had a good start.

"And last night we created enough chance to win by a bucket-full. But sooner or later they will all go in.

"Our confidence is really down at the moment but we as a team haven't been playing that badly despite our recent bad form."

Allan Stevenson made his first start of the season after recovering from an ankle ligament injury - and missed two great chances, the latter was from a great right-wing cross from Garry Shephard but the young midfielder, after getting into the six-yard-box, headed over when he should have at least hit the target.

Davis missed two chances - the first inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour after Steve Cowe flashed a low-cross across the box but the striker couldn't divert it in when he was unmarked at the back-post.

Then the second after a second-half free-kick from Fowler smashed back off the post but Davis blazed the rebound over from ten yards.

French, making his first home start, came close after a quarter-of-an-hour when his dipping right-foot piledriver cannoned back off the bar.

But County were warned of Town's threat when County keeper Pat Mountain's legs saved Mark Badman's point-blank effort from six yards and skipper Darren Robison bravely flung his body to block a close-range goal-bound strike from Charlie Griffin.

But Newport's defensive frailties were exposed seconds before the break when Fowler was disposed in midfield by Simon Charity who fed Simon Brown bursting through from the left-wing and he out-paced the sluggish back-line to fire the ball home.

Mountain again saved Newport in the dying minutes when he somehow palmed Griffin's back-post header off the line and away.

If County are to build on this result their strikers must starting finding the back of the net when the they get given such glorious chances and their defence and midfield need to close the opposition down quickly and not allow their opponents to turn and run.

Bad news for the Welshmen is that forward Mark Dickeson is the latest member of County's walking wounded with what is believed to be knee ligament damage after a bad tackle last night - but Harris allowed himself a wry smile discussing the start of the FA Cup trail when Newport visit his old side Gloucester City in the first qualifying round Saturday week.

Newport County (3-5-2) P Mountain; J Eckhardt, D Robison (c), A Thomas; S Cowe (L Stanton, 87), M Fowler, N Davies, A Stevenson, R French; G Shephard, N Davis (M Dickeson, 75 (D D'Auria, 85)) Subs Not Used : T Hart, S Walker Booked : A Stevenson 25 (foul), A Thomas 36 (foul), G Shephard 38 (kicking the ball away)

Chippenham Town (4-4-2) J Bittner; M Robinson (A Mings, 63), T Gould, G Davies (c) (S Andrews, 39), W Thomas; S Charity, M Harrington (M Rawling, 69), M Badman, S Brown; M Paul, C Griffin Subs Not Used : G Harris, P Thompson Booked : M Paul 44 (off the ball incident), W Thomas 65 (foul), A Mings 82 (foul) Referee : Mr Andy Newell (North Yate) Attendance : 741