NEWPORT County AFC fans haven’t had it this good since 1983.

Saturday’s 2-0 win over Yeovil Town took the Exiles to 21 points from 12 games – their best start to a Football League season in 34 years.

Neil Kinnock had just been elected Labour leader and Culture Club’s Karma Chameleon topped the charts when two goals from John Aldridge sealed the sixth win of the 1983-1984 campaign for Colin Addison’s County side at Exeter City.

Current boss Michael Flynn had just turned three back then but this comfortable victory, thanks to goals from Padraig Amond and Joss Labadie, continued his rapid coming of age as a manager.

In light of recent criticism from some fans following away defeats at Morecambe and Luton Town, Flynn had appealed for the supporters to be “positive and realistic” in the build-up to this match.

There was plenty of positivity as his side secured a fourth win and fourth clean sheet in five home matches so far this season with a dominant display.

As for realism? The manager might struggle to keep a lid on expectations if his side continue at their current rate of progress.

That is now 43 points from a possible 72 since he took over in March, which is without doubt the form of promotion challengers.

“Like I’ve always said it is one game at a time,” said Flynn afterwards.

“Nothing is won in October. We’ve got to keep going. It’s a good start to the season but nothing’s done yet.”

Asked about the support from the stands, he added: “This football club is nothing without the fans and they were outstanding again.

“We played good football and we were dominant so there was a lot to cheer but I was pleased. The fans made a lot of noise and it helps the boys.”

After the disappointment of Kenilworth Road, when they were beaten by the better team, this was a swift return to form for County.

They were a cut above a poor Yeovil side and should really have won far more comprehensively.

Labadie missed a sitter early on after a superb passing move and clipped the bar after the break, while Mickey Demetriou went close on three separate occasions and Amond could also have added to his tally.

South Wales Argus:

It could easily have been five but the Exiles had to settle for two with Amond and Labadie (above) both heading in from corners delivered by Matty Dolan, who was excellent on his return to the starting XI.

Yeovil could even have snatched an extremely fortunate draw if Joe Day hadn’t saved superbly from Francois Zoko’s deflected effort and Olufela Olomola’s shot had dipped under the bar in stoppage time.

At times this season Flynn’s men will be punished for missing chances and they will have to pick up more points on the road to sustain a play-off push.

But anything is possible after such a super start.

In the 1983-1984 season, County tailed off after the sale of Aldridge in March to finish 13th in Division Three.

In 1982-83, when they had earned 22 points from the first 12 games, they secured the club’s highest post-war league finish of fourth in the third tier.

It could go either way for the current squad and even 13th would be a big achievement after the past few seasons.

Many fans, and no doubt the Exiles themselves, will have their sights set higher than that.

The battle between positivity and realism goes on.

County: Day; White, Bennett, Demetriou; Pipe, Labadie (Owen-Evans, 88), Tozer, Dolan (Rigg, 70), Butler; Nouble, Amond (Reynolds, 85)

Subs not used: Bittner, Barnum-Bobb, Jahraldo-Martin, McCoulsky

Referee: Nicholas Kinseley

Attendance: 3,689