Swindon Town suffered a costly defeat on the road in the Sky Bet League Two this afternoon after going down 2-1 to Newport County.
Padraig Amond's stunning early goal dealt Phil Brown's side an early setback, before Ben Tozer doubled the home side's lead.
Paul Mullin came off the bench and was able to give Town a fighting chance, but it proved to be a case of too little too late.
Phil Brown made just once change with Rollin Menayese coming in to replace the injured Olly Lancashire at the heart of the defence.
Scott Twine kept his place on the left-flank following his impressive midweek display, whilst Reice Charles-Cook was handed a place on the bench.
It was another huge game for Town with anything less than three points not good enough as the race for the Play-Offs entered the final stretch.
It did take a while for the game to see any real action with both teams competing well and having spells of possession.
But it was Newport who had the first sight of goal with Ben Tozer firing a shot inches over the bar following a good spell of possession from the home team.
County wouldn't miss moments later, however, and they were able to take the lead with fourteen minutes played after Padraig Amond controlled a long cross before sending the ball over the head of Stuart Moore and into the back of the net.
Town were able to compose themselves though and they had a chance to draw themselves level just shy of the half-hour mark, but Kaiyne Woolery was unable to keep his shot down after Newport got into a mess at the back.
And it only got worse for Town after that missed opportunity with County going down the other end and doubling their advantage.
Town were unable to clear their lines following a long throw-in and they paid the ultimate price, Ben White picking out Ben Tozer who stooped down low to glance a header into the back of the net.
Scot Bennett then saw his header claimed by Moore, before White was unable to get a clean connection on a header and it flew way off-target.
Town did have a chance to pull a goal back before the break as Ollie Banks sent a low cross into the path of Scott Twine, but the young striker was denied space and his shot was eventually blocked by White.
Town opted for two changes at half-time with Donal McDermott and Paul Mullin replacing Ben Purkiss and Kaiyne Woolery respectively, and Mullin nearly made an instant impact as his 25-yard volley was pushed around the post by Joe Day.
The fresh legs were certainly making a difference with the visitors unlucky not to get themselves back into the game just shy of the hour mark.
Newport could only half-clear their lines and the ball came out to McDermott who sent a volley thudding against the crossbar.
Moore then had to be at his very best at the other end to somehow claw Mickey Demetriou's header away from danger after the Newport player latched onto Tozer's long throw into the box.
And that allowed Town to claw their way back into the game with Mullin getting just enough on McDermott's cross to send it past Day and into the back of the net.
But Town's hopes of salvaging something from the game were given a blow past the hour mark with Rollin Menayese sent for an early bath after picking up two bookings.
That prompted Phil Brown to make another change with Amine Linganzi replacing Scott Twine, before Banks could only leather a strike way over from a couple of yards out.
Frank Nouble could only skew a shot wide at the other end, before the striker was denied one-on-one by Moore following a mix-up at the back between Hussey and Banks.
Mullin tried his luck late on with an audacious effort that landed on the roof of the net, before Tozer rattled the post from a good 50-yards with Moore stranded having gone up the other end for a corner.
And that was it with Town, despite a much-improved second-half display, unable to get anything from the game.
TEAMS AND STATS:
SCORERS - Padraig Amond (14), Ben Tozer (35), Paul Mullin (62).
NEWPORT COUNTY (4-4-2) - Day; Pipe (C) (Tyler Reid 81), White, Bennett, Demetriou; Butler, Tozer, Willmott, Dolan; Collins (Frank Nouble 64), Amond.
SUBS - Bittner, Foulston, Touray, Sheehan, Jahraldo.
TOWN STARTING XI (4-4-2) - Moore; Knoyle, Purkiss (Donal McDermott 45), Menayese, Hussey; Taylor, Dunne, Banks, Twine (Amine Linganzi 68); Woolery (Paul Mullin 45), Richards (C).
SUBS - Charles-Cook, McGivern, Elsnik, Anderson.
BOOKINGS:
SWINDON TOWN - Rollin Menayese (2).
SENT-OFF - Rollin Menayese (66).
Referee - Charles Breakspear.
Attendance - 3,911 (949 Away Fans).
