Lucas Ness joined Notts County from Charlton Athletic in 2024
Lucas Ness scored the first goals of his professional career as Notts County got their League Two automatic promotion push back on track with victory over relegation-threatened Newport County.
The hosts took the lead on 19 minutes at Meadow Lane as Matt Palmer's corner found Ness, who had time and space to guide his header beyond Newport goalkeeper Jordan Wright.
Martin Paterson's side doubled their lead just four minutes later in almost identical circumstances to their opener as, from the opposite flank, Keanan Bennetts' corner was again headed into the net by Ness.
Shortly after Bobby Kamwa was denied by James Belshaw, Newport pulled a goal back on 65 minutes as Harrison Biggins' clever back-heeled effort beat the Magpies' goalkeeper.
But as the Exiles pushed for an equaliser, Jayden Luker scored his third goal of the campaign across all competitions late on to round off a key win for Notts County.
Victory - their 13th at home in the league this season - lifted Notts County up to third - four points adrift of leaders Bromley and two points clear of fourth-placed Cambridge United, although both of those sides have a game in hand.
Despite defeat, a fourth in their past five games, Christian Fuchs' men stay 22nd, a point and one place above the relegation zone after each of the other four sides in the bottom five also lost.
Paterson: 'People are stepping up and taking responsibility.'
