Newport 0-5 Forest Green
Last updated on .From the section National League
James Norwood's hat-trick helped Forest Green hammer promotion rivals Newport County in the Blue Square Bet Premier.
He fired into the top corner to open the scoring, with Yan Klukowski adding a second from close range.
Norwood slotted in his second from 12 yards and, after Reece Styche had raced clear for 4-0, completed his hat-trick with a low drive from 18 yards.
The visitors jumped two places to fourth in the table while County dropped a place to third.
VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Newport manager Justin Edinburgh told BBC Radio Wales:
"We've severely let ourselves down, which is really disappointing. I didn't see that coming, but we've been properly beaten.
"We have to dust ourselves down. We have to accept it. It's not easy. It's hard to take and it's hurting right now.
"But it's [about] how we respond. It's going to be a big test, but we've overcome tests before and I expect a response on Friday night [against Wrexham]."
Forest Green Rovers manager Dave Hockaday told BBC Radio Gloucestershire:
"I'm so proud of my lads because we've come in on Christmas Day, they have trained so hard, people don't know how hard these boys train.
"It was a super performance. My players deserve that for all the hard work they've put in over the festive period"
"I challenged my players to play football, and as much as we could we did. We caught them on the counter and I thought we were excellent."
