A backs-to-the-wall defensive performance and a smash-and-grab late winner sent Harriers to the top of the Conference.

On a difficult pitch made muddy by substantial amounts of rain the promotion rivals served up a game that was entertaining for the neutral but high on tension for those with an interest in the outcome.

With both teams fully committed to winning tempers were often close to boiling over, particularly in the first half; Harriers picked up five yellow cards and Newport three.

After early pressure from the home side when both Aaron O'Connor and Christian Jolley both fired wide and Lee Minshull's parried effort was hacked off the line, Harriers took the lead on 27 minutes.  Mickey Demetriou's pass split the County defence wide open, Anthony Malbon twisted and turned his way into the penalty area before squaring the ball to the far post where Michael Gash was on hand to notch his fourth goal in as many games.

County hit back quickly, though, and were level three minutes later when Andy Sandell's 25-yard effort through a crowded penalty area caught Danny Lewis unsighted and slipped just inside the far post.

After the break County enjoyed more possession and could have taken the lead had it not been for wasteful shooting by Jolley who fired wide on three occasions.  The same player also hit the post and was denied by a save from Lewis, one of a number of crucial saves made by the Harriers keeper.

At the other end Harriers were creating half chances but were not capitalising on them, the closest the came to a second goal for most of the second half was a shot from distance by Demetriou that was hit straight at Lenny Pidgeley.

The winning goal finally arrived in stoppage time; good work by Callum Gittings earned a corner on the right, Marvin Johnson's flag kick was headed against the crossbar by David Pipe and Chey Dunkley was on hand at the far post to fire in the rebound to record his sixth goal of the season and to cause scenes of mayhem amongst the travelling support.