NEWPORT County AFC showed their character and resilience to battle back from a goal down to beat Bradford City 2-1 at Rodney Parade.

County had gone seven and a half hours without a goal in League Two, but they hit the net twice in six first-half minutes to claim a morale-boosting victory against one of the promotion favourites.

Ryan Inniss made amends for missing the crucial penalty in Wednesday’s Leasing.com Trophy semi-final shootout defeat to Salford City as he headed the Exiles level to cancel out Clayton Donaldson’s opener for the visitors.

And Scot Bennett hammered in the winner in the 33rd minute to keep his side’s faint play-off hopes alive.

Dale Gorman and Otis Khan had returned to the starting XI after being cup-tied in midweek, while birthday boy Jordan Green was also recalled and all three made a positive impact.

Matty Dolan and Padraig Amond dropped to the bench but captain Joss Labadie was missing through injury, meaning Josh Sheehan wore the captain’s armband.

Khan and Green flanked Jamille Matt up front in a 3-4-3 formation that became more of a 5-4-1 or 5-3-2 when County were defending.

A tepid opening 25 minutes saw both sides struggle to get to grips with the difficult Rodney Parade playing surface.

Inniss headed just wide from Gorman’s cross early on and Tom King kept out a Donaldson header at the other end.

But there was very little sign of a goal before the visitors took the lead out of the blue in the 26th minute.

It was far too easy from a County point of view as Donaldson was allowed to climb high at the back post to head Connor Wood’s cross back over King and into the bottom corner.

It would have been easy for Michael Flynn’s men to crumble at that point, but they responded superbly and were level within two minutes.

Sheehan flicked a corner on and Inniss was in the right place to head in at the far post for his first goal in County colours.

It obviously meant a lot to the big centre-half and it was just what he and the team needed.

They set about Bradford with a renewed vigour and deservedly grabbed the lead in the 33rd minute when another corner sat up perfectly for Bennett to hit from the edge of the area and the centre-back rifled a half-volley into the bottom corner to get Rodney Parade rocking.

The Bantams looked rattled and County probably should have extended their lead as they dominated the remainder of the first half.

Ryan Haynes flashed a shot across the face of the goal after being released by Sheehan and Khan sent a free-kick inches wide in first-half stoppage time.

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Stuart McCall sent his side out early after the break and he replaced Adam Henley with Paudie O’Connor for the second half.

And the visitors improved, almost finding an equaliser in the 49th minute when Jake Reeves’ shot was deflected onto the bar.

The Exiles continued to impress going forward and Khan was denied by goalkeeper Richard O’Donnell before Bennett’s follow up was blocked from six yards out.

But they had to be on their toes at the back as Bradford continued to push and probe.

Donaldson got his head to a dangerous Glenn Middleton corner but the striker didn’t get enough power on it and could only glance the ball wide.

Inniss then blocked goal-bound efforts from Middleton and O’Connor and he put his body on the line again shortly afterwards to deny Lee Novak.

Substitute Shay McCarten also dragged a shot wide from distance as King raced to get back into his net and the Exiles number one had to keep out another effort from Donaldson.

County were hanging on and the five minutes of stoppage time seemed to last an age, but they deservedly closed the game out to seal a big three points.

County: King; Inniss, Bennett, Demetriou; Willmott, Gorman (Howkins, 79), Sheehan, Haynes; Green (Abrahams, 74), Matt, Khan (Dolan, 89)

Subs not used: Jefferies, Waters, Collins, Amond

Booked: Inniss, King

Referee: Joshua Smith

Attendance: 3,439 (467 Bradford)

Argus star man: Inniss