Newport County 1-2 AFC Wimbledon

Kevin Sainte-Luce banged in AFC Wimbledon’s 1,000th league goal tonight to complete a dramatic turnaround at Rodney Parade.

There will be few better strikes - and few more important - in that list than the one Sainte-Luce blasted home two minutes from time to secure a first win in five matches.

Ross Worner’s goalkeeping howler appeared to have gifted Newport County the points until two substitutes came off the bench to turn the game on its head.

Charlie Sheringham showed what he had to offer with a poacher’s finish on 85 minutes and moments later Sainte-Luce’s stunner sealed victory.

Neal Ardley’s side had drawn blanks in their previous three League Two outings and went into this one on a run of four straight defeats, prompting the Dons manager to make three changes to the side that were beaten by Bury on Saturday.

As the search for goals goes on, Ardley turned to fans’ favourite Jack Midson to try and add firepower to the attack as the former Oxford hitman replaced Charlie Wyke up top. A fit-again Will Antwi and Luke Moore also came into the starting XI.

Yet it was Wimbledon old boy Christian Jolley had the game’s first real chance and was unfortunate not to open the scoring with a decent header that Worner gratefully watched sail clear of the upright.

There was little in the way of chances for either side in the opening 45 minutes in South Wales but Luke Moore forced Newport goalkeeper Elliot Parish into what was the best save of the first-half as it remained goalless at the break.

It looked as though that would change soon after the restart. Midson got in behind the Exiles defence after good play from Danny Hylton, however the striker showed a lack of match-sharpness by snatching at the chance.

Instead it was the home side that broke the deadlock when Rene Howe and Worner both leapt for the same ball and the sheer physical presence of the bulky striker forced the Dons keeper into an error as the ball slipped from his grasp and into the net.

New signing Michael Collins came close to an equaliser, only for another former Wimbledon man, Ismail Yakubu, to put in an outstanding block to deny the on-loan Scunthorpe United midfielder.

Ardley sensed changes were needed to try and unpick the Newport lock. Sheringham and Charlie Wyke replaced Midson and Hylton to add fresh legs up front, with Sainte-Luce then coming on for Jim Fenlon as the Dons went for broke.

It was a gamble that paid off for the visitors. Sheringham, showing all the craft and guile that made his dad Teddy a household name with Manchester United and Tottenham, forced home a Sammy Moore corner to drag his team level.

Three minutes later and the turnaround was complete, with another substitute doing the damage. Sainte-Luce got the better of Robbie Willmott, sidestepped Yakubu and unleashed a blockbuster that gave Parish no chance and secure three much-needed points.

AFC WIMBLEDON: Worner, Fuller, Fenlon (Sainte-Luce 75), Jones, Antwi, Bennett, S Moore, Collins, Midson (Wyke 68), Hylton (Sheringham 68), L Moore.

Subs (not used): Brown, Pell, Arthur, Brown, Nicholson.