A late goal earned Fareham Town all three points as Newport fell to their first home defeat since early January
Newport made three changes from the side that started on Wednesday, against Portchester. In defence Scott Sampson came in for Alex Harmer, Mark Taylor replaced Keelan Walsh in midfield and Tom McInnes came into the attack replacing Jared Wetherick who limped off on Wednesday.
Newport kicked off attacking the Shide end into a stiff breeze. Within a minute Newport had the lead when Tom McInnes played a ball through the defence and Joe Butcher slipped it into the net nutmegging Luke Douglas.
In a Fareham counterattack, Simon Wood broke through the Newport defensive line but shot straight at Gary Streeter.
Fareham were awarded a penalty on 35 minutes when Ashley Tattersall was upended and Curt Robbins scored from the spot.
Play during the first half was end to end with neither team able to dominate for any considerable period.
Half Time: Newport 1 Fareham Town 1
Fareham started the second half iooking the livelier side and Simon Woods was given the Newport defence a few problems. He appeared to have a clear shot at goal before being closed down by Scott Sampson and shooting straight at Gary Streeter.
Injury forced Tom McInnes off after 58 minutes to be replaced by Josh Maloney. Fareham made a double substitution a few minutes later bringing off Eliot Roberts and Sam Martin replacing them with Aaron Grimshaw and Jason Cordice who was soon in action producing a good close range save from Gary Streeter.
Newport began to press more and Aiden Sainsbury’s attempt to force the ball over the line was thwarted by Luke Douglas.
With five minutes remaining Fareham used their final substitute bringing on Adal Aduzeid for Jay Ripiner. Newport swapped Aiden Sainsbury for Keelan Sainsbury and pushed Scott Sampson into attack. The space left n defence was exploited by Simon Woods who outfought the defence and slotted the ball past the advancing Gary Streeter to win the match for the visitors.
Despite the defeat, Newport remain in twelfth place whilst Fareham move up two places to thirteenth.
Full Time: Newport 1 Fareham Town 2
Newport: Streeter, West, Newbold, A Sainsbury (K Sainsbury), Pearce, Sampson, Taylor, Triggs, McInnes (Maloney), Kelly, Butcher.
Fareham: Douglas, Roberts (Grimshaw), James, Martin (Cordice), Pittman, Barker, Holmes, Tattersall, Woods, Robbins, Ripiner (Adal Aduzeid).
Referee: Ross Murphy Attendance 119