NEWPORT County AFC notched another excellent away win in League Two by beating Gillingham 2-1 on Saturday.

The Exiles became only the second side to win at Priestfield in the league in 2023 thanks to Omar Bogle’s powerful finish with 12 minutes to go.

Graham Coughlan’s side hit the front through Cameron Norman’s header from a James Waite corner in the ninth minute but the hosts levelled when Tom Nichols was fouled by Charlie McNeill in the box and then slammed in from the spot.

County had the better of the second half and got the win they deserved to finish with a flourish on the road in 2022/23.

Here are some talking points from the clash in Gillingham…

South Wales Argus: THANKS: Graham Coughlan and the County players and staff celebrate with the Amber ArmyTHANKS: Graham Coughlan and the County players and staff celebrate with the Amber Army (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

TEAM SPIRIT

Gillingham stretched away from trouble thanks to their cheque book, and fair play to their owners for that, but County had to go a different route.

They added midfielder Harry Charsley and young loanees Matt Baker, Charlie McNeill and Calum Kavanagh in January.

One thing you can’t buy is spirit and the Exiles have shown oodles of that to move up the table.

That was clear on a sunny day in Kent that stretched them to the limit with the bench featuring academy prospects Harrison Page and Kiban Rai plus Aaron Wildig, whose failure to come on suggests he still wasn’t right after illness.

County are without defenders James Clarke, Declan Drysdale and Adam Lewis, then saw Priestley Farquharson limp off early in the second half.

There are players who are running off fumes at the end of a long, draining campaign physically and mentally but they dug deep against a Gills side with an impressive home record.

Graham Coughlan and Joe Dunne got their game plan spot-on and the players executed it.

South Wales Argus: PARDON?! Cameron Norman celebrates putting County in frontPARDON?! Cameron Norman celebrates putting County in front (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

CONSISTENT CAM

It looked like a big blow when Liam Shephard left for Salford in the summer of 2021 but Michael Flynn had already made Norman his first summer signing.

It has been an inspired move – not only is the right-back durable but he’s a quality player.

Only a training ground injury can prevent the 27-year-old from completing back-to-back ever-present seasons with 90 starts and two appearances off the bench. The Crewe game will also be his 100th since heading to the club from Walsall.

Norman is a strong defender, is invaluable at winning free-kicks as the most-fouled player in the EFL and he has now added a goal threat with five strikes this season, all of them since December.

There may be flasher full-backs out there but County desperately need their reliable right-back to sign a new deal. Hopefully he’s settled in the Vale of Glamorgan.

SET PLAYS

County continue to chalk up their goals from set plays with Norman striking from a Waite corner from the left then Bogle firing in a loose ball from Aaron Lewis’ free-kick.

It’s now 24 for the season and the Exiles set the pace in League Two, a pair of goals ahead of Northampton and four clear of Carlisle.

The Mickey Demetriou long throw wasn’t a factor in Gillingham but the devil was in the detail with the boot.

South Wales Argus: DOWNED: Nathan Moriah-Welsh is fouled in County's win at GillinghamDOWNED: Nathan Moriah-Welsh is fouled in County's win at Gillingham (Image: Huw Evans Agency)

ONE LAST PUSH

County could finish higher than they did last season, which is remarkable given that they were pushing for automatic promotion in March 2022 while this year they were looking over their shoulders.

It has been a remarkable job by Coughlan, his staff and players to not just stretch away from the drop zone but keep climbing.

They head into final game in 14th, although Crewe could go above them on Wednesday, and it’s possible that they could finish 10th.

The final fixture isn’t just important in terms of placings though.

Coughlan will want his players to ensure that their two-game home losing run is not extended into next season and that they end the recent pattern of win-loss-win-loss-win-loss-win.

Last season’s finale against Rochdale felt flat and the same can’t happen on Bank Holiday Monday.