NEWPORT County AFC host Morecambe at Rodney Parade on Saturday looking to finally beat their bogey side and banish some painful memories.

The Shrimps’ spell over County is only three matches old but the mere mention of Morecambe is enough to bring Exiles fans out in a cold sweat.

The clubs have met three times since the start of last season and the men in amber have taken the lead in every game before calamity and Kevin Ellison intervened on each occasion.

In September 2013 Jim Bentley’s men inflicted a first League Two home defeat on County, winning 3-2 on their first visit to south Wales.

It all started so well for the hosts as Billy Jones smashed in a third minute opener on his debut but then the unfortunate Tom Naylor took centre stage.

His first own goal of the afternoon was cancelled out by Robbie Willmott’s strike at the other end but Naylor then headed into his own net for a second time before bringing down Ellison for the decisive penalty.

Naylor was also the key protagonist in the return fixture at the Globe Arena last March.

The 23-year-old scored at the right end to give the visitors a 1-0 lead at the break before it all went pear shaped again in the second half.

Naylor was sent off when Ellison tumbled under his challenge in the box and Morecambe went on to win 4-1 against ten-man County.

And, even though Naylor returned to his parent club Derby County over the summer, the jinx carried over into this season.

Justin Edinburgh’s men raced into a 2-0 lead in Lancashire back in August before Ellison, their Kryptonite-like nemesis, struck once again.

The veteran forward netted twice to draw his side level before Paul Mullin sealed a third victory for the hosts.

Midfielder Max Porter is desperate to end the hoodoo this weekend.

“Every time we play them it seems to be a controversial game with something going wrong and we feel we haven’t got what we’ve deserved,” he said.

“There’s no talk of revenge but surely we’re due a win against them this time.”

Caretaker boss Jimmy Dack, in charge since Edinburgh’s departure earlier this month, says he’ll prepare his side as normal but he does have a cunning plan to contain Ellison.

“We don’t look at them as a thorn in our side; it’s just another game to us,” said Dack.

“The plan for Kevin Ellison is to lock him in his hotel room on Friday night and not let him play the game!

“He’s a fantastic character,” he added. “You need footballers like him at your football club. I just hope he doesn’t perform tomorrow.”

Naylor is now on loan at Burton Albion so Brewers fans should be wary of their trip to Morecambe on April 18.