Joe Thomas picked the perfect moment to score his first goal of the season to give Newport County a vital win in their relegation battle with Harrogate Town.

The result keeps Harrogate pinned to the bottom of League Two, while Barrow - also on 33 points - are only ahead on goal difference after their late defeat at Barnet.

Newport remain in 22nd place, but crucially Christian Fuchs' side now have a four-point buffer over the bottom two and the Exiles' fate remains in their own hands with three games remaining.

But their final game is at Barrow and twists and turns remain likely as the season reaches its climax.

Newport went at their visitors from the start and after Harri Biggins threatened with two good efforts, Nathaniel Opoku claimed an early goal.

Ben Lloyd sent his forward through from the left and Opoku finished decisively past Henry Gray in the Harrogate goal.

But after riding out that early pressure without having more damage inflicted, Harrogate worked their way back into the game and finished the first half with a flourish to get back level.

Jacob Slater did well to get to the byline and his pull-back for Jack Evans allowed the midfielder to find the bottom right corner of the net.

The Sulphurites might even have snatched a second before half-time, but Ellis Taylor saw his shot squirm just wide of the post.

Newport were again quick out of the blocks after the break and, after a series of near misses, Thomas found the top corner from the edge of the area with a quality strike - the midfielder's first goal of the campaign.

James Crole and Evans went close to giving Newport breathing space, but it took a fine block by Evans at the other end to deny Stephen Duke-McKenna and secure a nail-biting win.