NEWPORT County AFC got back to winning ways with a dominant 4-0 success against Harrogate Town in League Two.

The Exiles are sixth in the table thanks to the victory at Rodney Parade, which thankfully will welcome fans through the turnstiles again when Barrow visit at the end of the month.

READ MORE: Detailed match report

Captain Mickey Demetriou opened the scoring with an eighth-minute penalty, Dom Telford struck just before half-time and soon after it and then Courtney Baker-Richardson added a fourth.

Here are the talking points from the win in Newport…

South Wales Argus: PACY: Josh Pask made his County debutPACY: Josh Pask made his County debut

DREAM DEBUT

County had the three points secure with 40 minutes to play but the job wasn’t done – they had a clean sheet to claim.

They did that for the first time since October and while it was very much a team effort, their new centre-back made an impression.

Josh Pask arrived on loan from Coventry on Tuesday and showed the qualities that you expect of a man who made 17 Championship appearances last season.

He slotted in for James Clarke, who has had a good first half of the campaign, to join forces with Mickey Demetriou in a flat back four.

On first impression they seem to have qualities to complement each other; Pask has the pace, composure and eye for a pass while Demetriou doesn’t mind a scrap and a 50/50.

Luke Armstrong can be a hard striker to play against but the central defenders did a good job, while full-backs Cameron Norman and Ryan Haynes also produced fine displays.

Tougher assignments lie ahead but this was a strong start for Pask in the County defence.

South Wales Argus: DESERVED: Courtney Baker-Richardson got on the scoresheetDESERVED: Courtney Baker-Richardson got on the scoresheet

THE OTHER FORWARD

He may be the Andrew Ridgeley of the double act but Courtney Baker-Richardson is having a fine season.

The striker can be frustrating and sometimes seems more comfortable when striking from distance than in a one-on-one, but don’t underestimate his efforts to allow Telford to shine.

Telford had another magic afternoon by winning a penalty, scoring two and then providing another assist (although there was also a moment that could well be highlighted in the team debrief when he ignored an unmarked Finn Azaz to go alone in a wasted opening on the stroke of half-time).

The striker has 19 for the season (18 League Two plus one in EFL Trophy) and will be quick to point to the work of his partner.

Baker-Richardson has plenty more to give and at times he was being coached loudly by Wayne Hatswell from the dugout, who was keen for him to keep doing his bit in the defensive shape.

His graft won the ball back in the build-up to his well-deserved goal, eventually jabbed in after he rounded the 'keeper, and we would be celebrating his strike rate more loudly were it not for Telford.

Last season Matty Dolan was County’s League Two top scorer with seven (six in the regular season) and Baker-Richardson has already hit that figure.

Not only that, he missed the start of the campaign and has seven in 18 games, a strike rate that over a full campaign would put him just shy of the magical 20.

Add to the mix Baker-Richardson’s defensive headers, when given the role of just attacking the ball at corners, and the forward has been a fine addition to the squad with plenty of room for improvement.

Freshening up by giving a shot to Lewis Collins or Timmy Abraham must have been a consideration after Salford but County reaped the rewards of sticking with their little and large partnership.

South Wales Argus: INFLUENTIAL: Scot Bennett did well in midfieldINFLUENTIAL: Scot Bennett did well in midfield

PROTECTION

I wondered whether the loan midfield trio of Jake Cain, Finn Azaz and Ollie Cooper are just too nice after the 2-0 defeat to Salford but they got the nod again.

This time they were in front of stalwart Scot Bennett, who slotted in because Robbie Willmott has a knee niggle.

It worked a treat against this Harrogate team with Bennett, who will be the first to admit he doesn't have Willmott's passing range, providing the graft and aggression to allow the young trio to do their stuff.

Cooper provides bite in a different way, pressing with energy and snapping away while looking like a choirboy.

He was as dangerous as ever with the ball, driving at the defence for an hour before the scoreline allowed James Waite to have a debut.

Azaz provided the assists for Telford and is a serious talent in a languid way with his Jarvis Cocker build.

The physicality of Bennett provided cover for the defence and seemed to bring a better performance out of the neat and tidy Cain.

The Liverpool loanee isn’t as eye-catching as his teammates from Swansea and Aston Villa but it was pleasing to see more defensive interventions from the 20-year-old, while good work in midfield allowed Haynes, Azaz and Telford to combine for the second goal.

The performance of Bennett provides food for thought because Willmott has been one of the star performers of the campaign so far with his comfort on the ball.

It might be a case of horses for courses against more rugged teams with Willmott playing further forward as he did at the start of the season in place of Cain.