BURY equalled a club record for away wins as goals from Ryan Lowe and Danny Nardiello sealed a sixth straight victory on the road.

But manager David Flitcroft is looking forwards, rather than back, as his side’s quest to “gatecrash” the automatic promotion places moves on to a crunch clash at home to second-placed Shrewsbury on Tuesday.

The Shakers remain one place and four points outside the top three after third-placed Wycombe squeezed to a 2-1 win at home to bottom club Cheltenham Town.

“This team is progressing – if we got a record then fantastic, but there is a bigger objective than setting away records,” said the Bury boss, whose side equalled a mark set twice before, in the 2010/11 and 1960/61 seasons.

“Whilst it is still achievable to gatecrash the top three that is something we will keep driving towards - that is our cause going into the last games of the season.”

Lowe flicked a Chris Hussey shot past Newport stopper Joe Day in the 21st minute to claim his first goal in eight games.

And second-half substitute Nardiello calmly dispatched a second on the break two minutes from time, rolling the ball under Day following a through ball from Andrew Tutte.

Bury missed a handful of chances to put the game to bed before Nardiello’s late strike.

Tom Eaves dragged a shot across goal after chesting down a great diagonal pass from Kelvin Etuhu.

Craig Jones then ballooned over a first-half effort after being set up by Lowe, before Tutte had two stunning shots saved by Day after the break.

Those misses set up a nervy finish, with Adam El-Abd turning a Miles Storey cross on to his own post.

But Nardiello’s 14th goal of the campaign released the pressure and triggered wild scenes as the striker ran across the pitch to celebrate with the 274 travelling Bury supporters.

Flitcroft admitted to being a relieved man as Bury navigated a difficult fixture against a side that started the day in seventh place.

“This was a tough game,” he said. “They have got real aspirations to get into the play-offs, so this was a massive game for us.

“We’ve got this one out of the way, Tuesday night is another big game.”

Bury’s veteran strikers Lowe, aged 36, and Nardiello, 32, may have sealed the points, but Flitcroft praised the team’s defensive display after they claimed a fifth straight clean sheet away from home – an outright club record.

The manager also highlighted the impact of another golden oldie, 35-year-old midfielder Chris Sedgwick, who came off the bench in the final 20 minutes to steady the ship.

“Sedge has been a bit of an unsung hero this year,” he said.

“I think that is eight or nine games we have put him on. It’s a regret of mine that I didn’t manage to get him on the pitch in time last week (when Bury conceded two goals in the final 10 minutes to lose 2-1 at home to Morecambe).

“But Sedge has come on and his calmness and the way he pulls people in has supported a magnificent defensive effort.

“Keeping our discipline and structure is something we have worked hard on and it’s paid off again today.”

NEWPORT (3-5-2): Day; Poole, Darren Jones, Sandell; Jackson, Chapman, Minshull (Feely 53), Byrne, Klukowski (Storey 46), O'Connor, Zebroski (Jeffers 70). Not used: Stephens, Porter, Parker, Tutonda.

BURY (4-4-2): Pope 8; Craig Jones 8, Cameron 9, El-Abd 7, Hussey 8; Soares 7 (Rose 6 81), Etuhu 8, Tutte 9, Mayor 7; Eaves 7 (Sedgwick 7 70), Lowe 8 (Nardiello 8 61).

Not used: Hope, Adams, O'Brien, Lainton.

Goals: Newport County 0 Bury 2 (Lowe 21, Nardiello 88).

Yellow cards: None.

Referee: Oliver Langford.

Attendance: 3,123 (274 visiting).

Star man: Andrew Tutte – Captain Nathan Cameron marshalled his defence superbly to a fifth straight clean sheet, but it is wins they need now to keep pressure on the top three. And to earn three points you need to score. Tutte did everything but get his name on the scoresheet, with one improved chip from the edge of the box forcing a save Bury boss David Flitcroft described as the best he had seen as a manager. Tutte’s drive and determination, as well as his goal threat, set the tone throughout as the former Rochdale man continues to play an important role in the middle of the park.