A SOLITARY strike once again proved to be enough for Newport County AFC as Tristan Abrahams’ penalty edged a League Two encounter at Stevenage.

The striker put the Exiles into an early lead from the penalty spot after superb work by right wing-back Liam Shephard had drawn a foul.

The Exiles led from the eighth minute but had to dig deep at the Lamex Stadium to take the spoils, concentrating when under the pump in a tense finale to stay second in the table, level with leaders Cambridge United.

Stevenage, who were only saved from relegation to the National League by Macclesfield’s financial situation, posed more problems that Tranmere, who dropped down from League One.

But County, with the central defence of Mickey Demetriou, Matty Dolan and Brandon Cooper superb, held firm for three precious points on the road as they continued their impressive start to the campaign.

South Wales Argus: PENALTY: Liam Shephard is brought downPENALTY: Liam Shephard is brought down

Michael Flynn stuck with the same XI that had done a professional job in the 1-0 win against a physical Tranmere team at Rodney Parade.

The only change made by the manager was to add to his attacking options on the bench with new signing Jamie Proctor replacing fellow loanee Bradley Webb.

The sight of the sprinklers working before kick-off would have pleased County after a Rodney Parade malfunction had left them with a dry pitch against Rovers at the weekend, hindering them in their desire for rapid on-the-deck football.

Yet it was a ball over the top that caused problems in the second minute with the Exiles thankful that Danny Newton’s neat lob over Nick Townsend rebounded back off the crossbar.

Stevenage had gone closer within 90 seconds than Tranmere had in 90 minutes, a wake-up call for Flynn’s men.

And after an escape down the other end, County got their noses in front when Liam Shephard dribbled from the right into the box and was clipped by his rival wing-back Ben Coker.

It was a simple decision for referee Lee Swabey and top-scorer Abrahams made no mistake from the spot, slotting home his seventh of the campaign to be well on the way to his target of 20.

The striker will feel he should have moved up to eight after being put through on goal after 15 minutes; he hit the target with his right foot but failed to really stretch goalkeeper Jamie Cumming.

The Exiles’ rapid front men were causing problems with their ability to run behind the Boro defence but the visitors didn’t have things all their own way with Romain Vincelot and Elliot Osborne both having sights of goal only to fail to trouble Townsend.

South Wales Argus:

Stevenage were keen to deny County time on the ball, resulting in yellow cards for Osborne and Scott Cuthbert for fouls on Scott Twine and Saikou Janneh.

The second was a particularly crude effort after a lay-off but it didn’t stop the Scottish captain from complaining to the linesman about the Exiles’ moaning and asking for cautions.

The Exiles finished the half on top and, despite being unable to work any more clear openings, were good value for their 1-0 lead at the break.

Townsend had to be strong to keep that advantage soon after the restart after Boro counter-attacked well to work an opening for dangerman Jack Aitchison, who fired powerfully and low only for the Exiles keeper to react well to his left with the rebound eluding Aramide Oteh.

The home side were on top, giving Flynn plenty to ponder on the touchline with Proctor and Padraig Amond options if he wanted the ball to stick up top.

Approaching the hour it remained red and white dominance in terms of territory and possession but County, with Dolan calling the shots from the heart of defence, prevented them from troubling Townsend again.

Oteh’s well-timed run earned a half chance on the angle only for Wales Under-21s defender Cooper to block superbly, but there were still warning signs for the Exiles.

Flynn brought on Amond for Abrahams and Scot Bennett on for Twine in a bid to add more energy, with the latter providing more cover for the defence and freeing up Josh Sheehan as the clock ticked into the 70s.

Cooper had an opening at the other end from a Dolan corner but couldn’t direct his header towards goal and the game, as has so often been the case for the Exiles this season, remained in the balance.

It was getting tense with Janneh angering Dolan after being unable to hold onto the ball up top under pressure.

The hosts put in another big effort to push County back towards their goal; Robbie Willmott’s introduction for Janneh showed that Flynn was happy to hold what they had.

Townsend barked at his defence after a let-off when Newton scuffed a shot from the penalty spot and the hosts kept the pressure up entering five minutes of time added on.

County came close to sealing it through a wonder strike by Sheehan from halfway after a clearance kick came his way, the shot drifting just past the unguarded goal, but it didn’t matter.

Stevenage: Cumming, James-Wildin, Coker, Vincelot, Cuthbert, Prosser, Osborne, Newton, Hutton, Aitchison, Oteh.

Substitutes: Johnson, Effiong, Marsh, List, Read, Smith, Marshall.

Yellow cards: Osborne, Cuthbert

County: Townsend, Cooper, Dolan, Demetriou, Shephard, Haynes, Labadie, Sheehan, Twine (Bennett 67), Janneh (Willmott 83), Abrahams (Amond 63).

Substitutes: King, Baker, Bennett, Willmott, Ellison, Proctor.

Goals: Abrahams

Referee: Lee Swabey