Hartlepool United vs Newport County AFC. Sky Bet League Two.
Suit Direct StadiumAttendance3,739.
Wednesday 19 August 2015 01:18, UK
Scott Fenwick grabbed the only goal as Hartlepool continued their winning start to the season by overcoming Newport in Sky Bet League 2.
Pools beat Morecambe and York either side of a Capital One Cup upset over Fleetwood, and continued the trend thanks to Fenwick's fine strike just after half-time at Victoria Park.
A drab first half passed with little incident, Newport's Mark Byrne coming closest when striking over the crossbar from 18 yards having been afforded too much space.
The beginning of the second period was much more lively, however, as the home side opened the scoring in the 51st minute.
Fenwick capitalised on Kieran Parselle's slip and, 20 yards from goal, unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner.
Newport almost found an immediate riposte, Regan Poole powering a header just over from Scott Barrow's corner.
Joe Day had to be alert to keep out a rasping Rakish Bingham volley in the 64th minute, before Fenwick struck another decent chance over.
Billy Paynter went even closer when his effort was cleared off the line by Poole, but it mattered little as Hartlepool took the spoils.