THE Newport County AFC revival continued to gather pace with a superb display earning a 3-0 win at Notts County and moving the Exiles out of the League Two relegation places.

Goals from Sean Rigg, Rhys Healey and Josh Sheehan saw Graham Westley’s men blow away John Sheridan’s hosts and climb to 22nd in the table.

After keeping Sheridan’s men quiet for the opening half an hour, the Exiles succeeded in frustrating the home fans.

There were already murmurings of discontent from the stands at Meadow Lane before referee Andy Haines pointed to the spot on 34 minutes after spotting a foul by Richard Duffy on Josh Sheehan.

Rigg’s penalty was poorly struck and too close to goalkeeper Adam Collin, who got down well to palm it out.

But the Newport midfielder netted at the second attempt to give his side a deserved lead.

Four minutes later it was 2-0 as Healey doubled the visitors’ advantage with a stunning solo effort, running away from the Notts defence before turning and picking out the top corner with a stunning strike from 25 yards.

The Exiles were 2-0 up at Meadow Lane last season, under Sheridan, before going on to lose a crazy game 4-3.

But Westley insists that what has gone before means very little and it never really looked like history would repeat itself here.

Healey had a great chance to add a third with a one-on-one minutes into the second half but he was denied by the legs of Collin.

Then the goalkeeper tipped a curling effort from Sheehan onto the post.

But the Swansea City youngster was just finding his range and he sealed a comprehensive victory with a sublime dipping volley on 62 minutes that gave Collin no chance.

The home fans booed Sheridan’s decision to replace former Newport teenager Aaron Collins.

And the away supporters sang ‘Sheridan, what’s the score?’ It was nearly 4-0 as substitute Tom Owen-Evans tried his luck with a long distance volley that was acrobatically tipped over by the overworked Collin.

At the other end there were hopeful shouts for penalties but Joe Day was largely a spectator with few meaningful attacks from the hosts.

Genaro Snijders volleyed over from close range late on but the home side were second best throughout.

County: Day, Barnum-Bobb, Jones, Bennett, Butler, Tozer, Sheehan, Jebb (Owen-Evans, 70), Rigg, O’Hanlon, Healey (Myrie-Williams, 88)

Subs not used: Bittner, Compton, Angel, Wood, Touray

Booked: Rigg

Referee: Andy Haines

Attendance: 3,883

Argus star man: Sheehan