David Ajiboye was one of six January transfer window signings made by Newport County after sealing a loan move from League One side Peterborough United
Newport County increased their gap from the League Two relegation places and eased the pressure on manager Nelson Jardim with a tense win over fellow strugglers Morecambe.
A first senior goal from youngster Joe Thomas early in the first half had put County on course for a second home win in as many games.
And just as Morecambe looked to have snatched a draw when Gwion Edwards smashed home from close range with 11 minutes remaining, David Ajiboye responded to secure the Exiles' first back-to-back victories in four months.
Jardim will have been thankful for a superb performance from goalkeeper Nick Townsend to stop recent criticism of Newport's slide increasing.
But while the win moved Newport 10 points clear of the bottom two, the result kept Morecambe three points from safety in 23rd.
The loss will sting the Shrimps, who had ended a four-game losing streak at the weekend with a win over Tranmere while also satisfying EFL financial requirements of funding for the remainder of the season.
Yet hopes of building on such positivity took a hit early on when 22-year-old Thomas struck in just his fourth league start.
The former Swansea City youngster had already gone close in the opening exchanges, his smart shot on the turn forcing a stretching save from Harry Burgoyne.
But, on eight minutes, the Morecambe goalkeeper had his hands stung by a Bobby Kamwa shot from distance, with Thomas profiting from close range.
With the Shrimps failing to score in half of their league outings, it should have given the Exiles an invitation to hammer home their advantage.
Instead, Morecambe twice hit the crossbar; first with a cross from Yann Songo'o, then when Hallam Hope headed against the underside as County failed to clear a corner.
Morecambe rallied after the interval, with the home crowd responding to the pressure with a mix of anger and anxiousness.
Townsend twice denied Marcus Dackers as the Shrimps aimed high into the area.
But a scramble at a corner – where Townsend had already made three reflex saves – eventually saw Edwards find a way past on 79 minutes.
Newport, though, responded within minutes, Anthony Glennon's floated ball controlled and finished intelligently by Ajiboye to seal the victory with his first goal for the club since his loan move from Peterborough, a delighted Jardim celebrating with raw emotion at the final whistle.
Newport County head coach Nelson Jardim told BBC Sport Wales: "We knew it was going to be difficult, they were tough to deal with.
"We were brilliant in the first half and it was disappointing not to score another goal or two. In the second half we were trying to push, but you have to give credit to the opposition who are fighting for their lives.
"They pushed us with long balls, corners, throw ins, but we have been ready to deal with this type of football. We did well and we were lucky to have a goalkeeper that kept us for the win."
Morecambe manager Derek Adams said: "We lost a poor goal in the first half, but the second half was utter domination by ourselves. I think it was 25 attempts on goal, and we've got to score [more]. Their goalkeeper made some outstanding saves and won them the game.
"The defending was poor for their second goal, but we were the team that deserved to win the match and we've done that in the last two games against Newport.
"We shouldn't have lost either game. We were better than them in both games, but you have to be able to put the ball in the back of the net and we couldn't get the ball past their goalkeeper. He was outstanding."
