NEWPORT County got their home campaign off to a perfect start last night with a comprehensive win over a lacklustre Basingstoke.

Though the visitors were poor - just as bad as they were at Spytty Park last season - County performed really well, quick and decisive in attack and full of purpose down the flanks.

It was a second successive impressive display by all, but the attacking trio of Sam O'Sullivan, Julian Alsop and, in particular, Craig Hughes really caught the eye.

It is too early to be getting carried away of course, County picked up four points from their first two games last season and then failed to accumulate a single point in their next ten games.

But this appears to be a different Newport County, they work hard for one another and are far more tactically astute than they were last season.

County were lucky not to concede last night and they do sometimes lose concentration at the back, but they created enough chances to score six or seven, a great sign with Havant and Waterlooville the visitors on Saturday.

Once again the Exiles got off to a flying start, taking the lead in the fourth minute.

The goal owed much to the persistence of Hughes who chased a hopeful ball down the left flank, turned his marker Naved and fired in a low cross.

It was inch perfect for O'Sullivan but he missed the ball, allowing new boy Alsop to slam home on his home debut.

Big Alsop is a constant menace, he's an absolute bulldozer, magnificent in the air with a deceptively good touch and the awareness and nous you would expect from someone who has been a professional player for over a decade.

County kept up the pressure on the visitors with O'Sullivan tormenting both fullbacks with his pace, him and Jason Bowen switched flanks effectively throughout.

However, when County's second goal arrived it was simplicity personified, a punt from goalkeeper Mark Ovendale was flicked on by Alsop and Hughes nipped in ahead of defender Joe Dolan to clip the ball over goalkeeper Ashlee Jones from close range.

County were buzzing at this stage and could have gone in further ahead, Alsop and Hughes both creating chances before the interval.

They began the second half in the same manner, O'Sullivan saw a volley blocked and Bowen's 12-yard effort with the outside of his foot was badly miscued.

However, on 52 minutes they wrapped up the game, Bowen's corner cleared to O'Sullivan who whipped in a ball that Hughes glanced across the goalkeeper with his head from six yards.

Disappointingly, County most definitely rested on their laurels after this.

Ovendale was drawn into the action on the hour, tipping away an effort from substitute Mark Peters.

Nathan Davies was denied a strong penalty claim on 76 minutes when the visitors brokeaway, Ben Surey chipping Ovendale in the sweeping counterattack, the effort ust missing a post by inches.

Four minutes later Basingstoke missed a golden chance for a consolation goal, Peters blazing a penalty over the bar after Bowen was harshly adjudged to have handled in a penalty box scramble, but it did not bring a yellow card.

Substitute Matt Green almost got off the mark for the season in injury time. Alsop played him in with a header and Green showed pace and strength to get inside defender Dolan, but his sliding effort bounced back off a post.

It was without question a great start to the home campaign for the 928 in attendance and bodes well ahead of Havant on Saturday.

County: Ovendale, Thomas, Searle, Brough, Hillier, Bowen, O'Sullivan (Toppar 88), Davies (Collier 83), Williams, Alsop, Hughes (Green 74). Substitutes (not used): Giles, Prosser Basingstoke: Jones, Ottley, Olayinka, Bristow, Dolan, Surey, Ray (Otley 74), Bruce (Howell 88), Roach (Peters 57), Taylor, Warner. Substitutes (not used): Wright, Brown Referee: Ron Ganfield (Weston-super-Mare) Attendance: 928