NEWPORT County AFC climbed to second in the League Two table with a battling victory at Port Vale thanks to unlikely goal heroes Scot Bennett and Dan Butler and a dogged defensive display.

Bennett put Michael Flynn’s men ahead before Tom Pope levelled for the hosts and Butler hit the winner three minutes after the break.

It was the perfect way for the Exiles to bounce back from Tuesday’s Carabao Cup defeat to Oxford United as they fought hard to retain their lead and continue their excellent start to the league campaign.

There were six changes from the cup defeat with Joe Day, David Pipe, Matty Dolan, Josh Sheehan, Padraig Amond and Mark Harris all returning to the starting XI.

Nick Townsend, Tyler Forbes, Charlie Cooper and Jamille Matt dropped to the bench alongside deadline day loan signing Cameron Pring but captain Andrew Crofts and striker Antoine Semenyo were not involved.

The hosts, who were protecting a 100 per cent home record in League Two this season, tore into County from the start.

Louis Dodds fired wide from a corner after just two minutes before Dave Worrall went close and Cristian Montano curled a shot high and wide from the edge of the area.

Pope also forced Joe Day into a fine save as Vale dominated the first 10 minutes.

The Exiles took a while to find their stride with a wayward Tyreeq Bakinson effort all they could muster before Dolan almost found the net from a trademark free-kick.

The midfielder, who scored the winner against Grimsby Town from a set-piece last week, was denied by a superb Scott Brown save and Mickey Demetriou headed wide from the corner.

But they soon got going and they edged ahead on 18 minutes.

Dolan’s corner was cleared to Sheehan and when his volley was blocked Bennett was the man who reacted quickest to poke the ball beyond Brown from around 12 yards.

Flynn's men then began to knock the ball about with confidence and they nearly doubled their advantage through Bakinson.

The Bristol City loanee went for placement rather than power this time but Brown got down well to his left to deny him a first goal in County colours.

It looked as if the visitors would take charge of the contest at that point but Vale had other ideas.

In a frantic few minutes at the other end Pope saw a header deflected on to the post before scoring from Luke Hannant’s corner.

Day attempted to punch it clear without success and Pope got between Demetriou and Fraser Franks to nod in from close range.

Then Demetriou almost scored his second own goal in successive matches as his diving header beat Day but came back off the post.

Bakinson got another shot on target as County countered but it didn’t have enough power to beat Scott at his near post.

And Harris went down in the box in the final minute of a see-saw first-half but referee Martin Coy was not interested.

County came out of the blocks quickly after the break and they re-established their lead within three minutes of the restart thanks to some neat play from Harris on the right flank.

The striker, who thrived despite the constant boos from the home fans after his penalty appeal, cut the ball back just behind Amond and the on-rushing Butler fired into the bottom corner to the delight of the visiting fans behind Brown’s goal.

Sheehan saw a shot beaten away, Harris sent a shot just wide and Bakinson appeared to be fouled in the box but the remainder of the second half was something of a rearguard action for the Exiles, who lost Amond to injury.

Vale substitute Ricky Miller made a big impact, going close on two occasions before hitting the post with a superb effort.

Fellow sub Ben Whitfield also went close for the hosts, who were adamant that they should have had a penalty for handball midway through the second period.

Flynn sent Mark O’Brien on for Sheehan and Bennett headed off the line in stoppage-time as County held on to claim a first away win of the season in League Two and a hard-earned three points.

County: Day; Franks, Bennett, Demetriou; Pipe, Dolan, Bakinson, Butler; Sheehan (O’Brien, 79); Amond (Matt, 60), Harris (Marsh-Brown, 90)

Subs not used: Townsend, Pring, Forbes, Cooper

Referee: Martin Coy

Attendance: 4,385 (223 County)

Argus star man: Bennett