Newport pull clear of drop zone with win over Morecambe

Newport took a big step towards safety with a nervy 2-1 home win over struggling Morecambe.

The Shrimps thought they had earned a point when substitute Gwion Edwards cancelled out Joe Thomas’s early opener with 11 minutes remaining.

But David Ajiboye slotted in the winner three minutes later to move County up to 17th in the League Two table – 10 points clear of 23rd-placed Morecambe with a game in hand.

Thomas had already forced Harry Burgoyne into a flying save after 60 seconds, and he was in the right place to tuck home the rebound when Burgoyne spilled a Bobby Kamwa effort on eight minutes.

Yann Songo’o hit the bar for Morecambe before Shane McLoughlin, Cameron Evans and Courtney Baker-Richardson all went close to extending the hosts’ lead.

Exiles goalkeeper Nick Townsend was in inspired form to deny Marcus Dackers three times before Edwards scrambled in a deserved equaliser.

But Ajiboye kept his cool to beat Burgoyne at the other end and condemn Morecambe to a fourth successive away league defeat.