A FIRST-HALF header from Padraig Amond and a second-half penalty save from Joe Day earned Newport County AFC all three points against Crewe Alexandra.

An impressive performance saw County bounce back from their 3-0 opening day defeat at Mansfield Town while Crewe, who thumped Morecambe 6-0 last week, were brought crashing down to earth at a rain-soaked Rodney Parade.

Manager Michael Flynn made three changes with David Pipe, Josh Sheehan and Mark Harris replacing Tyler Forbes, Keanu Marsh-Brown and Jamille Matt.

Forbes and Matt dropped to the bench but Marsh-Brown was ruled out through injury, as were Mark O’Brien and Robbie Willmott.

It was a surprise debut for 19-year-old striker Harris, who joined on loan from Cardiff City earlier this month, but he played his part in an entertaining first 45 minutes.

Harris linked well with Amond and Sheehan, with Pipe, Dan Butler and Mickey Demetriou getting forward in support at every opportunity.

County were on the front foot from the start with Butler crossing for Amond to head at goal before cutting the rebound back for Sheehan, whose shot was deflected behind.

Matty Dolan then curled a free-kick just off target from 25 yards and Butler again crossed from the left for Amond, whose snap shot was blocked well by Abergavenny-born Dave Richards in the Crewe goal.

The visitors had their chances in an open first-half with Alex Nicholls smashing one shot wide and Harry Pickering hitting the post with a free-kick from 30 yards.

South Wales Argus:

Sheehan (above) became increasingly influential in linking the midfield and the front two and he twice tried his luck from distance without troubling Richards.

And the pressure eventually told on the Crewe defence in the 33rd minute as Demetriou burst forward from the back and curled in a perfect cross for Amond to head into the bottom corner.

The Irishman went down in the box moments later but referee Brett Huxtable dismissed County’s claims for a penalty.

The Exiles picked up where they left off after the break with two Dolan free-kicks causing the Railwaymen problems.

Fraser Franks saw a goalbound header deflected behind from the first before Scot Bennett nodded the second inches wide of the far post.

Sheehan’s thunderous half volley from 25 yards out was then superbly saved by Richards before Butler’s ambitious driven effort sailed just wide.

At 1-0 the game was still on a knife-edge, however, and the visitors were gifted a huge chance to level the match thanks to a dubious-looking penalty award on 66 minutes.

Paul Green was adjudged to have been impeded on the very edge of the area, much to the disbelief and evident displeasure of Flynn.

But Day came to the rescue as he dived to his right to keep out Green’s tame spot-kick.

Harris and Sheehan both came off to standing ovations either side of the penalty incident, with Antoine Semenyo and Charlie Cooper coming on.

Amond was denied a second potential penalty in the final 10 minutes but County held on for a victory that gets their season up and running after last week’s false start.

County: Day; Franks, Bennett, Demetriou; Pipe, Dolan, Crofts, Butler; Sheehan (Cooper, 69); Amond (Matt, 90+4), Harris (Semenyo, 60)

Subs not used: Townsend, Foulston, Forbes, Bakinson

Referee: Brett Huxtable

Attendance: 3,243 (253 Crewe)

Argus star man: Amond