FINALLY! Newport County AFC have had to wait since March 5 for a victory at Rodney Parade, but they can celebrate three points tonight after an impressive fightback against Tranmere Rovers.

James Rowberry’s men went down to a seventh successive home defeat against Salford City in midweek and they trailed 1-0 this afternoon thanks to an Aaron Lewis own goal midway through the first half.

But they quickly levelled through Nathan Moriah-Welsh before Omar Bogle scored the winner from the penalty spot before the break.

It will be a big relief for Rowberry, who always maintained that a win was just around the corner for his side, and he can now look forward to Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash against Portsmouth with confidence.

The Exiles boss made three changes to his starting XI with new loan signing Thierry Nevers replacing Lewis Collins up front, Moriah-Welsh making his first start in midfield in place of Sam Bowen and Declan Drysdale returning from suspension at the back.

He replaced Adam Lewis, who endured a tough evening against Salford on Tuesday night, with Cameron Norman returning to right wing-back and Aaron Lewis switching to the left.

Nevers arrived from West Ham United on Thursday and only trained with his new team-mates for the first time yesterday, but he instantly looked at home at Rodney Parade.

The 20-year-old cleverly won a corner early on and could have won a penalty in the 10th minute after displaying some smart close control in the box.

And he played a key part in the Exiles’ fightback after they had gone behind in unfortunate circumstances midway through the first half.

Tranmere threatened sporadically in the opening stages with Elliot Nevitt heading a Josh Dacres-Cogley cross over the top and goalkeeper Nick Townsend out quickly to deny Kane Hemmings when the defence was caught out by a ball over the top.

But it was still something of a surprise to see the visitors take the lead in the 23rd minute when Paul Lewis’ cross from the left hit Aaron Lewis in the chest and diverted into his own net.

Though, the way County’s season had gone up to that point, maybe it shouldn’t have been such a shock.

Rowberry’s men refused to be downhearted, however, and they responded superbly to their misfortune to level within six minutes.

It was Moriah-Welsh who found the bottom corner from eight yards after a goalmouth scramble, but the goal was all about the fantastic solo run from Nevers on the left to create the opportunity.

Lewis tried his luck from 30 yards soon afterwards following an impressive turn from Moriah-Welsh, but his effort was high and wide.

But County didn’t have to wait long for their second as referee Tom Nield pointed to the spot, eventually, in the 37th minute when James Clarke was tripped in the box by Kyle Jameson.

Bogle confidently swept home the penalty to claim his third goal of the season and put the Exiles ahead for the first time in League Two in the new campaign.

The home fans celebrated with a chorus of ‘We are staying up’ and they cheered just as loudly when Hemmings blasted into the side netting in the final minute of the half, with the travelling fans believing for a second that their side had levelled.

County started the second half in confident mood, and they should have made the afternoon a lot more comfortable but James Waite fired over the top on 56 minutes after a threatening run into the box by Bogle.

Nevers received a deserved standing ovation when he was replaced by Collins soon afterwards, as did the quietly effective Waite when he made way for Bowen.

There was a big let off on 66 minutes when captain Mickey Demetriou almost put through his own net for what would have been a fourth own goal of the campaign for the Exiles.

Bogle went close again with 10 minutes left on the clock as he swivelled in the box and hooked a shot just wide and he was then denied by Doonan.

And Bogle had another effort blocked before Collins forced Doonan into another save and Norman went down in the box to no avail as the home side finished on top.

Argus star man: T Nevers

County (3-5-2): N Townsend; J Clarke, D Drysdale, M Demetriou; C Norman, N Moriah-Welsh (Adam Lewis, 86), S Bennett, J Waite (S Bowen, 68), Aaron Lewis; T Nevers (L Collins, 57), O Bogle (C Zimba, 85)

Sub not used: J Day, M Dolan, W Evans

Booked: J Clarke

Tranmere (3-5-2): R Doonan; N Byrne, J Turnbull, K Jameson; J Dacres-Cogley, R McAlear (J Hawkes, 72), P Lewis (L O’Connor, 46), C Merrie (J Nolan, 46), E Bristow; E Nevitt, K Hemmings

Subs not used: B Hockenhull, R Hughes, M Hewelt, M Fisher

Referee: T Nield

Attendance: 4,070