By Michael Addison
A quickfire double from substitute Will Grigg saw Chesterfield end a run of three consecutive draws in League Two, claiming a 3-0 victory over Newport at Rodney Parade.
Dilan Markanday also scored, capitalising on a mix-up at the back between Kyle Jameson and Nick Townsend to give Chesterfield the lead within the first minute of the game.
The opener came from Chesterfield’s goalkeeper Max Thompson’s long clearance which was flicked on by Paddy Madden, who played in Dilan Markanday, on loan from Blackburn, whose run put Jameson under pressure, rolling the ball into an empty net to give Chesterfield an early lead.
Markanday’s goal resulted in his fourth goal in League Two, his second in his last three games for the Spireites.
The visitors had chances to add to their lead, when Jenson Metcalfe’s volley failed to trouble Townsend in the Newport goal.
Newport were unable to create any clear cut chance in the first half, with the Exiles’ best chance came down the left, with Cameron Antwi playing the ball to Kieron Evans, whose shot was stopped by Thompson.
However, Newport grew into the second-half with Noah Mawene and Kyle Hudlin’s introduction into the game testing the visitors’ lead.
Mawene’s run down the left supplied a perfect opportunity for the Exiles to get level, the Preston loanee’s cross was met by Hudlin who couldn’t find the target.
Again, Newport tested the Chesterfield defence, Hudlin’s long looped ball hit the inside of the post, with Thompson managing to prevent an equaliser.
Substitutes Ollie Banks and Will Grigg impact made the difference on this match. Six minutes from the 90, Ollie Banks’ ball down the right was met by a sliding Grigg, giving the former Northern Ireland international his fifth goal in the league this campaign.
Three minutes later, Banks’s ball to Grigg from the right made it three. Grigg capitalised on Newport’s chaotic defending, manoeuvering the ball on the ground to score his sixth league goal to give the visitors the three points.
Tonight’s result leaves Newport in 12th, winless in four ahead of Saturday’s matches, Chesterfield move up into the play-off places, recording their first win since the 28th of September.
Both sides have matches on Tuesday night as Newport travel to Kent to play Gillingham, while Chesterfield host Colchester at the SMH Group Stadium.
Attendance 4,570 (373 away)
Newport XI: Townsend, Brennan, Clarke, Jameson, Glennon, Morris, Antwi, Wildig ©, K. Evans, Baker-Richardson, Kamwa
Subs: Carney, C. Evans, Whitmore, Mawene, Hudlin, Spellman, Greaves
Chesterfield XI: Thompson, Mandeville, Williams, Araujo, Gordon, Metcalfe, Oldaker, Markanday, Dobra, Colclough, Madden
Subs: Rinaldo, Grimes, Daley-Campbell, Banks, Berry, Jacobs, Grigg