AFC Wimbledon 3-0 Newport

Terry Brown said the club can now enjoy Christmas after piling the pressure on former forward Dean Holdsworth.

The heat is on the Newport boss with the south Wales side now just one place and three points off the relegation zone.

It was all too easy for the Dons against a County team expected to challenge for the play-offs before a ball was kicked this season. Two fine first half goals from Danny Kedwell and a tidy header from Jon Main just after the hour mark did the damage – and Brown believes his team can pull ahead of the promotion pack with maximum reward from their next three games.

He said: “We’re delighted, really thrilled. Could you imagine what it would have been like over Christmas had we lost today? Goodness me!

“This is the biggest Saturday fixture to win in my opinion, maybe other than the first day. We can enjoy the festivities now, we’re glowing.

“We had the breaks at the right time but we looked quite comfortable from set pieces and even scored from one! That really is a turn up for the books.

“We also kept a clean sheet which was the most important thing, we actually looked really comfortable at the back which was pleasing. James Pullen didn’t have too much to do over the 90 minutes so I’m happy.

“It was a strange game which didn’t get going really. We did take our chances quite well today, other than perhaps the last ten minutes! I thought Kedwell was brilliant – he has always been great for us, and it is more about us getting the best out of him.

“Now if we beat Fisher twice and get the points at Bognor on January 3 we could well push on ahead of the others with Chelmsford.”

Wimbledon were never at their free-flowing best but always had too much for the visitors as soon as they went in front.

Sam Hatton, hugely impressive at right-back, won the corner which Chris Hussey delivered to perfection. Kedwell, though, stole the applause as his exquisite volley found the net via the inside of the post.

Paul Cochlin came close with a free kick for County but strength and determination from Kedwell gave Newport a half-time mountain to climb.

He struggled free from two markers on the half-way line and bust through on goal. The forward rounded keeper Glyn Thompson and rolled the ball into the unguarded net to double the advantage.

It was game over when Main headed home Tom Davis’ cross – second after missing from close range.

Kedwell should have added two more in the closing stages but it mattered little as Wimbledon jumped a place to third.

Newport boss Holdsworth said: “Today is a set back. We didn’t deserve to be 2-0 down at half time but certainly our concentration has cost us dear and we were poor in the second half.”