CITY signed off in style with a fifth straight win to send their third largest crowd home happy.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER was at Valley Parade for yesterday’s season finale and provides the match stats and his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Andy Cook claimed a goal and an assist as he proved a real handful for the Newport defence. Skipper Richie Smallwood also put in another big performance.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Bobby Pointon has had some week and followed up his cracker at Barrow with an even better effort into the top corner.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

The game went a bit flat for a spell as the reality kicked in that City’s outside play-off hopes were disappearing because of the scores elsewhere.

TACTICS

Graham Alexander made just the one anticipated change from the team that started last Tuesday’s win at Barrow.

Jamie Walker, who watched that among the away fans, was back from his one-game ban. He replaced Alex Gilliead, who returned to the bench in place of Liam Ridehalgh.

REFEREE: Thomas Kirk (Manchester)

BOOKING: Evans (Newport)

ATTENDANCE: 18,842 (with 357 from Newport)

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 6 Newport 2

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 11 Newport 14

CORNERS: City 7 Newport 2

FOULS: City 8 Newport 12

PLAYER RATINGS

CITY: S Walker 6, Oyegoke 6, Platt 6, Kelly 6, Halliday 7, Smallwood 8, Wright 7, Pointon 7 (Oduor 78min), J Walker 7, Cavanagh 7 (Smith 78min), Cook 8. Subs (not used): Chapman, Gilliead, Tomkinson, Richards, Doyle.

NEWPORT: Townsend 6, Bright 5 (McLoughlin 81min), Baker 6, Sanca 6, Evans 6, Morris, Bennett 6 (Waite 66min), Charsley 7 (Wildig 81min), Palmer-Houlden 6, Jephcott 5 (Bondswell 66min), Evans. Subs (not used): Rai, Norris, Maxted.