Newport County 1-0 Grimsby Town: Debutant Maynard a hit for 10-man Exiles

Newport midfielder Scot Bennett was sent off in the first half

Newport County's new loan signing Nicky Maynard made an immediate impact with the winning goal against Grimsby Town.

The home side looked to be in for a long afternoon when midfielder Scot Bennett was shown a straight red midway through the first half for a lunge on Grimsby forward Stefan Payne.

But Maynard put Newport ahead from close range after Matty Dolan's deflected shot fell kindly.

Newport keeper Nick Townsend stood firm as Grimsby peppered his goal.

Grimsby had new signing Julien Lamy making his debut as a second-half substitute, but they could not force an equaliser against 10 men.

They sit 23rd, two points shy of safety, while Newport move up to fourth, just a point off the play-off places.

Newport County manager Michael Flynn:

"It's probably the best win of the season but I feared the worst when we went down to 10 - for the fourth game out of five, it's not good enough.

"We're giving referees the chance to give them. We need to learn and quick, because otherwise we're not always going to get away with it.

"The players have just gone and shown there how much they stick together, how much hard work they do for each other and they can hand it out against a physical team.

"It was unbelievable (Maynard's goal). That's why I wanted him, for those kind of moments."

Grimsby Town boss Paul Hurst:

"As disappointed and frustrated as I am with the defeat, there are positives. Some people might say I'm talking rubbish, because it is a results game and given the position we are in we need points, but I'm pleased.

"Seven of the players who started weren't here in January when I first joined and there were three more on the bench. We know we have got to raise our levels because it hasn't been good enough so far.

"We are playing better teams when you look at the league table, so we've got to raise our game to even have a chance of getting a result.

"I didn't want the sending off to happen. Michael Flynn would have got into them at half-time no matter what and changed things around but once they got an early goal in the second half they were able to sit in and defend."