Bristol Rovers survived a spirited Newport County fightback to edge a 3-2 Severnside derby at Rodney Parade, with Luke Thomas's quick-fire second-half brace proving decisive in a meeting that burst into life after the break.
It was the eighth meeting between the two clubs in their histories, and a cagey, goalless opening period gave little hint of the drama to come as Rovers eventually held off a late rally from the hosts.
A Cagey Opening Springs to Life
The first half passed without a goal, and Bobby Kamwa thought he had broken the deadlock for Newport three minutes after the restart, only for the offside flag to cut short the celebrations.