As in the first match, albeit facing eleven men rather than nine this time around, the visitors controlled possession for long periods but even on the rare occasion they showed the ability to find a way past City's backline, the chance created was wasted by Paul or his teammates. And this was the pattern of play for the opening 20 minutes until a venture into Newport terrority saw City gifted the lead. County goalkeeper Mountain received a backpass but rather than clearing first time elected to take a touch and suddenly found both Milsom and Foster closing in on him. His hurried clearance struck the former and, despite having the chance to open his account for the season, the big striker unselfishly squared the ball Foster who rolled it into the unguarded net. Rattled by this blow Newport lost their heads for a spell and, with City never shy of responding in kind, the game threatened to boil over, City's Thorne and County's Benton were both cautioned, before another ex-City player, Stuart James, got involved in a bizarre touchline duel with Alan Pridham. With Mountain waiting to take a goal kick with a replacement ball James tried to grab another ball off Pridham only for the City boss to comicly go down clutching his face in an impersonation of Paul.

When order was restored Towler and Foster both went close doubling City's lead but two minutes into the second half Paul showed a glimpse of what he used to be capable off, his fierce drive striking Hervin's post with the keeper well beaten. Eckhardt also came close to grabbing an equaliser before City struck for a second time. Williams began the move that saw Gosling find space down the left wing and his cross picked out Thomas perfectly to head past Mountain from eight yards. City were now content to sit back and absorb what threat Newport could produce but despite finding room down either flank the final ball was too often poor and Hervin did not have a difficult save to make. To the delight of the home fans the third former Roman in the Exiles rank, Scott Walker, was substituted after 77 minutes. And it was a substitute of their own that almost made the game safe after 81 minutes, MacLean's long range effort forcing a smart save from Mountain. With time running out Newport finally pulled a goal back, Plant turning Paul's nod down past Hervin, but the closing minutes saw City hold out comfortably and record their second win of the season.