Stevenage hold on for victory at Newport

First-half goals from Jake Mulraney and Aaron O'Connor ensured Stevenage took all three points with a 2-1 win at home to Newport.Alex Rodman pulled one back for the visitors to set up a grandstand finish, but Darren Sarll's side clung on.That scoreline denied Newport the chance to guarantee their Sky Bet League Two survival, but with York and Dagenham losing, both County and Stevenage are all but safe.Tom Pett was the key man for Stevenage early on. He beat Ben Davies far too easily and whipped in a dangerous cross from the right and Mulraney bundled in his first senior goal after nine minutes.Former County player O'Connor's classy goal - his first for Stevenage - put the hosts in charge just after half an hour, and it could have been 3-0 before the break when Medy Elito appeared to bring down Pett in the box.Warren Feeney's men improved after the interval and were rewarded with a goal from Rodman, who volleyed home after 86 minutes, but that proved no more than a consolation.