TOP scorer Aaron O’Connor believes Newport County AFC have the momentum to earn a top-seven finish in League Two and the striker is convinced he’s the man to fire the Exiles to promotion.

O’Connor hit his tenth goal of the season at Accrington Stanley on Friday night as Jimmy Dack’s men moved up to sixth in the table with seven games remaining.

And, ahead of the Good Friday showdown with in-form Hartlepool United at Rodney Parade, he’s not ready to settle for a double-figure goal tally as County edge closer to securing a play-off place.

“I’m happy-ish with ten goals so far,” said O’Connor, who has started 27 of the Exiles’ 42 games so far this season.

“Double figures is not bad but I still haven’t reached my target yet.

“When I reach the target I set myself I’ll be happy and I’ve still got plenty of games to get more goals this season.”

And O’Connor is also confident that the team can achieve their aim for the season.

“I think at this stage of the season it’s not the best team or the biggest squad, it’s momentum that gets teams over that line,” he said.

“There are a lot of teams battling for the top seven but in terms of momentum I think we’re right up there.

“And if we can keep that going then there’s no reason why we can’t cement a play-off place before the end of the season.”

The striker’s goal at the Crown Ground was aided by a goalkeeping error from Stanley’s Scott Davies before substitute Shaun Jeffers added the second in stoppage time.

“It was a tough game, which we knew it was going to be, and they had a lot of good spells but we kept compact and stayed solid and hit them on the break,” he said.

“For my goal Max [Porter] put a cross in from the left and I got a little touch on it.

“The keeper should have gobbled it up but it went through his legs.

“It was on target so it will definitely go down as my goal but it was a goalkeeping error.

“I’m buzzing for Shaun as well,” he added.

“When he plays I think he always does well and I like playing up front with him so I was pleased that he got the goal at the end.

“Hopefully it will help him push on for the last seven games and the win will give us all a lot of confidence.”