Zak Mills found the back of the net just before half time to record an important three points for Oldham Athletic against Newport County at Rodney Parade.
Latics started the game brightly as Filipe Morais raced down the right-wing and delivered a low cross to Alex Iacovitti but he couldn’t get a good connection on the ball. As the ball was cleared the visitors won a free-kick and played it short which saw Morais drive into the box and he forced Nick Townsend into a great save.
The hosts began to apply pressure onto Dino Maamria’s side and he a few half chances which began with Ryan Inniss towering above everybody in the box, but he couldn’t keep his effort down.
Following that, Corey Whitely tried his luck with a low shot inside the penalty area, but Zeus De La Paz got down to keep the midfielder out.
Latics tried something off the training ground from a corner as the ball ended up to Tom Hamer outside the area and his powerful strike went just wide of the Newport goal.
Oldham managed to take the lead just before half time as a cross from the left landed at the feet of Jonny Smith and his strike was kept out by Townsend, but Mills was there for the rebound to give the Latics fans something to cheer.
After the start, Scot Bennett regained possession outside the box and had a strike on goal, but De La Paz palmed his effort away to keep the Exiles.
Newport came very close to pulling themselves level as Tristan Abrahams dribbles into the 18-yard-box and beat David Wheater, but his powerful attempt went just over the bar.
In the 85th minute, the hosts were awarded a free kick in the edge of the penalty area. Matt Dolan stepped up, but the wall stood strong to block his set-piece and condemn Newport to their third league defeat in a row.
Newport County 0-1 Oldham Athletic.
Attendance 3748 (Away 207).
Newport County XI – Townsend, Haynes, Labadie © (Maloney 67’), Amond, Matt, McNamara (Dolan 61’), Abrahams, Bennett, Whitely (Nurse 76’), O’Brien, Inniss.
Subs – King, Howkins, Dolan, Nurse, Maloney, Poleon, Jefferies.
Oldham Athletic XI – De La Paz, Mills, Iacovitti, Stott, Wheater, Hamer, McCann, Missilou, Morais, Smith, Azankpo.
Subs – Woods, Fage, Sylla, Maouche, Eagles, Wilson, Emmerson.