NEWPORT County go into their historic 1,000th game tomorrow without five first team players, but it could be a lot worse for one of them - goalkeeper Tony Pennock.

The reformed Newport County AFC travel to Thurrock for Blue Square South action without Pennock, who survived a horrific accident in midweek.

The veteran goalkeeper will be out for a month after suffering a domestic incident that could have led to him losing a foot.

Pennock slipped while cutting his grass and his lawnmower went over his head and landed on his lower leg, fracturing one toe and slicing through three more.

Pennock was rushed to hospital for stitches and doctors told him he'd been extremely lucky not to have lost his entire foot, though he will be in plaster from toe to knee for the next week. He explained: "I feel very stupid, firstly for cutting my grass in the middle of February!

"I tripped over a tree in the garden and fell backwards, the lawnmower landed on my foot.

"It sliced my shoe in half and there was blood everywhere.

"No one was in the house so I had to make my way in and phone an ambulance, I wrapped my foot in a towel and the paramedics came pretty quickly.

"I've got an open fracture in one toe, three more are sliced open and stitched up and because of my job (football coach) I am in plaster.

"On the one hand I feel disappointed because I feel fit and have enjoyed being back in the squad (Pennock missed the whole of last season with a broken leg), but I am also very lucky because the doctor told me I was close to slicing off part of my foot.

"The lads in the squad have all been ringing me and laughing down the phone, telling me I am the new Dave Beasent! (Who famously broke his foot trying to control a bottle of salad cream he'd dropped).

"It's four weeks out which is a blow, but I have to look on the funny side, you couldn't make it up!" he added.

Ian Hillier (hamstring) and suspended duo Lee Fowler and Steve Jenkins join Pennock on the sidelines.

With such a lengthy list of absentees boss Beadle decided to recall Paul Cochlin from Cirencester, but typically the giant defender is also now on the injury list.

Cochlin has suffered a foot injury, though it is understood not to be too serious.

Beadle explained: "Cochers damaged his foot or his toe on Saturday and then played 120 minutes in midweek, before realising he was in pain!

"He's had a scan and we don't think it's as bad as first feared, but he'll be out for a couple of weeks we think at the moment."

Utility man James Simpson will come into the side at right back, with Lee Jarman replacing Ian Hillier.

Beadle may decide to include youngster Ashley Evans - who has waited patiently for a start - rather than new signing Andy Gurney, in place of suspended number eight Lee Fowler.

In attack Beadle has all four strikers fit, with Craig Hughes perhaps likely to come back into the side in place of Charlie Griffin.

It's a tough test for County in their historic 1,000th game, they've never beaten Thurrock who have won eight of their 13 home games this season.

However, Beadle is hoping the incentive of a trip to Ninian Park and County's proud unbeaten league run of eight games will spur his under-strength side towards a valuable three points.

He said: "The boys should be looking forward to Ninian Park and the FAW Premier Cup semi with Cardiff but if they don't produce the goods tomorrow they won't play, it's as simple as that.

"We have a lot of players out but that's no excuse, we have depth to our squad for exactly that reason and I believe we can go to Essex and win the game."

County (Argus predicted team): Thompson, Simpson, Searle, Davies, Jarman, Dodds, Bowen, A Evans, Clarke, Hughes, R Evans Subs: Ovendale, Gurney, Alsop, Griffin, Harrison