Port Vale 1-2 Newport County

Newport County saw their woodwork rattled as Port Vale pushed for an equaliser

Newport County climbed to second as Dan Butler scored the winner at Port Vale.

The Exiles led through Scot Bennett when he latched onto a loose ball to score past Vale goalkeeper Scott Brown.

Tom Pope equalised with a header from a corner, his 56th goal at Vale Park setting a new record at the ground.

But when Mark Harris' cross was missed by Padraig Amond - who was later forced off with a head injury - Newport left-back Butler was following up to find the bottom corner.

Vale pushed hard for an equaliser, having a strong appeal for handball waved away before Ricky Miller hit the post with a curling effort, but have now lost five of their last six games.

Newport manager Mike Flynn said:

"Pope's a handful but I thought the boys dealt with it tremendously... they're tough, they hit the post twice.

"But we had a few chances as well and because of the way we defended and the way we went about it, I thought we deserved the win.

"That for me was the most important win this season."