TWO weeks after ending their Morecambe misery Newport County AFC banished their home hoodoo with a 1-0 win over Carlisle United.

Scott Boden was again the match-winner with a tap-in just before the hour mark to seal a second home win of the season in League Two.

It was a first three points at Rodney Parade since Oliver McBurnie’s hat-trick saw off Luton Town at the end of November.

And a first home win for Warren Feeney who was watching from the TV gantry as he served a one-match touchline ban for his outburst towards the match officials at Leyton Orient last month.

Assistant manager Andy Todd and first team coach Mike Flynn were issuing the instructions from the bench.

The coaching team had made three changes from the win at Morecambe on January 30.

Goalkeeper Joe Day returned from suspension in place of Mitchell Beeney, Scott Barrow replaced the injured Andrew Hughes and John-Christophe Ayina came in for Deane Smalley.

New forward Dean Morgan was named on the bench alongside Janoi Donacien and Matt Partridge, both back from injury.

The 1pm kick-off seemed to have put off a fair few fans with empty seats visible all over the ground but the players were certainly not caught cold on a chilly afternoon.

The visitors were out of the traps quickly and David Atkinson gave Day an early test with a fierce low drive in the fourth minute.

It may have bobbled on the surface, which was cutting up from the warm-up on, but Day won’t have been happy with his first touch as the ball squirmed from his grasp.

The former Peterborough United stopper quickly gathered at the second attempt, however, and the danger passed.

Jabo Ibehre headed over from a Macauley Gillesphey cross soon afterwards but most of the chances in the early stages came at the other end.

Ayina failed to convert Conor Wilkinson’s cross and when he put the ball back in the centre Boden’s shot was blocked.

Darren Jones bundled goalkeeper Mark Gillespie and the ball over the line but referee Lee Collins awarded a free-kick to Carlisle.

The ref refused to blow his whistle when Ayina looked to be pushed in the box soon afterwards and Gillespie then got down well to deny Alex Rodman.

Jones then saw a header cleared off the line just before the Exiles’ best opportunity of the half.

A ball over the top caught out the visitors’ defence and Boden was through on goal.

Gillespie rushed out to confront him and Boden placed his shot two yards wide of the left hand post.

County had to survive a few nervy moments as half-time approached.

First Day came out to punch Atkinson’s cross and Jones had to clear after headed attempts from Alex Gilliead and Charlie Wyke.

Then Carlisle captain Michael Raynes headed wide from a free-kick to ensure that it remained goalless at the break.

Any early momentum in the second half was halted by a lengthy stoppage as Barrow took a knock to the head and looked to lose consciousness for a time.

He was eventually stretchered off and replaced by Donacien.

But it was the visitors who seemed to be more affected by the delay as two minutes later the Exiles were ahead.

Carlisle failed to properly clear a corner and the ball dropped nicely for Rodman to volley towards goal.

His effort looked to be going wide but Boden was in the perfect position to bundle the ball over the line and make amends for his earlier miss.

Gillesphey drove a free-kick wide soon afterwards but, in truth, there were few worrying moments for County after they had taken the lead.

It could have been even more comfortable with most people inside the ground convinced that the referee had pointed to the spot when Wilkinson was brought down 15 minutes from time.

Instead it was a free-kick right on the edge of the area and Gillespie did well to clear Ben Davies’ shot with his feet.

Wilkinson almost added a second in stoppage time but County held on for victory fairly easily after Brandon Comley was shown a second yellow card for the visitors.

Victory for York City at home to Notts County means Feeney's men remain seven points above the bottom two.

County: Day; Holmes, Jones, Davies, Barrow (Donacien, 54); Rodman, Byrne, Elito (Klukowski, 71), Ayina; Boden (Morgan, 90), Wilkinson

Subs not used: Beeney, Owen-Evans, Partridge, Dymond

Booked: Jones, Byrne

Referee: Lee Collins

Attendance: 2,106 (200 Carlisle)

Argus star man: Conor Wilkinson