PUMPED-UP Newport County stuck five goals past Redbridge last night without reply to bounce back from last weekend's disappointing defeat at Welling to edge closer to Nationwide South safety and relegating the Essex side in the process.

The result pulls County three points clear of the drop zone and up to fifth from bottom ahead of Carshalton and with their goal difference far superior to any of the relegation rivals, that alone is worth another point.

"It was a case of job done," said manager John Cornforth. "We were poor on Saturday (in the 3-1 defeat at Welling) and changed things round a bit with our shape.

"We went to five at the back and put Jason Bowen up front and it paid off, we kept a clean sheet and Jason scored twice.

"We are almost there, a victory on Saturday (at home to Thurrock) should be enough.

"Our goal difference is miles ahead of anyone else down the bottom and that will help also."

It was an eventful evening for County winger Bowen. In just nine hectic minutes before the break he bagged two goals - his 11th and 12th league goals of the season, but also two bookings to earn a red card.

By that time Nick Harrhy had already opened the scoring on 33 minutes with a fierce left foot volley, his second goal in two matches, and things were looking good when Bowen grabbed the second two minutes later when he fired home at the second time of asking.

Within three minutes he went into the book after a clash with Redbridge's Steve McNamara, who was also booked.

He then grabbed his second with a neat lob over Jason Whincup in the Redbridge goal after an Ashley Williams through ball but on the stroke of half-time he received his marching orders for kicking the ball away after the whistle had blown.

"The sending off was a bit of a joke," commented Cornforth on the incident.

County dug in to protect their lead but the sides were level in numbers just after the hour mark when Whincup was sent off for deliberately handling the ball outside his area to deny Antonio Corbisiero, who limped off soon after with a ankle injury.

Substitute John Phillips came on for his first appearance in six weeks and helped himself to a couple of goals late on to seal the victory, the first a low shot in to the corner following some good work by Chris Taylor, and the second, with virtually the last kick of the ball, when he was put clear on goal.

Redbridge: Whincup, Schillaci, Dobson, Dinnen, Sangare, Maxwell, Lynch, Lincoln, Luck, Antonie, McNamara. subs: Freeman, Johnston, Lumsden, Mackie, Wattley. Booked: McNamara (39 foul). Sent off: Whincup (64 deliberate hand ball).

County: Vaughan, Phillips, Morgan, Davies, Thomas, Jones, Corbisiero (Hooper 70), Williams, Harrhy (Phillips 81), Bowen, Taylor (Grist 87). Subs not used: J. Moralee, A. Delve. Booked: Bowen 39 foul). Send off: Bowen (44 second yellow card). Attendance: 176.