MATCH-WINNER Scot Bennett believes the manner of Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Bradford City at Rodney Parade will stand Newport County AFC in good stead as they head to Grimsby Town tomorrow.

Fellow defender Ryan Inniss cancelled out Clayton Donaldson’s opener for the visitors before Bennett hit the winner five minutes later in an action-packed first half against the Bantams.

County had to defend for much of the second half but they held on for a vital three points to bounce back from last week’s penalty shootout defeat to Salford City in the Leasing.com Trophy semi-final.

Bennett told iFollowExiles: “I think it was what we needed after Wednesday night.

“We spoke through the week after that game and we wanted a positive result to push us on.

“To get the winner is an added bonus but [I’m] just delighted to get the win.

“It’s nice to get them. I don’t remember much about it; I just remember it coming out and I put my foot through it and it’s nice for it to go in and get the win.”

South Wales Argus:

Bennett admitted Bradford posed plenty of problems but he was pleased with how the team defended.

“I think they slowed the game down to start with, we were trying to put a tempo into it,” he added.

“They did well to slow it down and we couldn’t get going.

“They obviously nick one at the back post and we had to create our own tempo then. To go on and score quickly helps.

“It was hard out there with the pitch and wind especially in the second half, they whipped in a few really good corners.

“It was [a] resolute, backs-against-the-wall, throw-your-body-in-front-of-it [performance] and it’s always nice to win that way.”

The three points lifted Michael Flynn’s men to 15th in the League Two table. A win at Grimsby tomorrow night will see the Exiles climb to 10th.

Read more: Newport County boss looking up the table after beating Bradford City