PAULTON ROVERS 1 NEWPORT COUNTY 0: Paulton Rovers ended Newport County's unbeaten start to the season as they sent the Blue Square South leaders crashing out of the FA Cup with a well-deserved victory at Winterfield Road in front of a crowd of 709.

Rovers were well served by goalkeeper Kyle Phillips with central defenders Ollie Price and James Tyrell outstanding, while strikers Neikell Plummer and Robbie Claridge threatened.

In midfield, Chris Lane and Ben Lacey always posed problems for the Newport defence.

County were denied a fourth-minute lead when Kevin Cooper released Danny Rose, but the midfielder was denied by a fine save from goalkeeper Phillips.

Paulton opened the scoring when Plummer turned his marker and beat goalkeeper Glyn Thompson with a low drive to rock the visitors.

Plummer could have given Paulton a two-goal lead in the 22nd minute when Lacey crossed, but his far post header was off target.

Just before half-time, Lacey broke clear but his shot was saved by Thompson when he would have done better to pass to the unmarked Claridge.

At the other end, Phillips was again in action, just before the interval, with a good save from Rose and, in the opening minutes of the second half, the goalkeeper did well to turn a floated cross from Paul Bignot behind for a corner.

However, once Paulton had rebuffed Newport's early second-half pressure, they settled down to have the better of the exchanges.

In the final 15 minutes, the hard working Claridge created chances for Lacey and twice set up Plummer, but they were not taken and the home side had to settle for a narrow victory.