NEWPORT County's battle to avoid the Nationwide South relegation chasm is going right down to the wire now.

Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Thurrock at Spytty Park, along with rivals Maidenhead's victory and Carshalton and Margate both picking up points, and a tough match at Lewes next week, means that it is more than likely relegation will be decided on the very last day of the season - against Maidenhead at home.

The worst-case scenario that captain Darren Jones described in Saturday's Argus is now upon them, as once again County gifted their opponents a couple of goals before they finally got out of the blocks.

A Jamie Moralee goal 14 minutes from time gave hope of a fightback, but in reality the damage was already done.

County must now own the patent for conceding early goals, although instead of the customary deficit inside ten minutes they lasted all of 17.

It was the usual slapstick routine that has plagued their season that brought the goal when Thurrock captain Jimmy McFarlane was left unmarked at a free kick and allowed to head the ball back across goal.

Quite where the County defence were at this point is anyone's guess, as Bertie Brayley was allowed to back-heel the ball over his shoulder while in mid-flight.

Before that point, however, County were howling for a penalty when McFarlane got himself into a terrible mess under pressure from John Phillips and the ball appeared to strike his arm.

The referee, James Cox, wasn't for budging, though.

The whistler certainly was not the most popular man around Spytty on Saturday. A couple of other penalty claims came and went and he ludicrously failed to allow Darren Jones an advantage late on when he blew for a foul.

The ref also botched up the major flashpoint in the match right on half-time, when he only booked Kris Lee after the striker went right over the ball and into Andrew Thomas in a style that would have made his namesake, Bruce, proud.

Lee's early bath was not to be denied, though, as he was sent packing a mere 60 seconds later after another clash with Thomas, who was also booked.

By that point, though, County were two down after 25 minutes, and once again the goal had the veins in manager John Cornforth's neck threatening to explode.

He was screaming for a foul on goalkeeper Nathan Vaughan which led to Adam Parker slotting home via a Brayley shot off the bar after the 'keeper failed to deal with a cross.

But the goal stood, and until the Lee carry-on the game was as stale as a week-old kebab.

The second period saw a slight improvement but the numerically challenged visitors defended in numbers and rarely looked threatened, and the 15 places between the sides in the league were painfully apparent.

Injured midfielder Antonio Corbisiero was badly missed and Ashley Williams was carried off in the first half, but it was more a case of too often the wrong ball was chosen.

Sixty-yard passes being fired up to Nick Harrhy and John Phillips were no use, a duo who can match the height of the suspended Cortez Belle if they stand on each other's shoulders.

Harrhy did come closest, though, with a neat clipped shot that went just wide eight minutes after the re-start.

County dominated the possession and huffed and puffed, but were fairly blunt, so it was a bit of a surprise that they managed to pull one back.

It was a moment of brilliance from wing magician Jason Bowen that did the trick as he weaved right through the heart of the Thurrock defence and squared for Moralee to bravely convert from close range.

The huffing and puffing continued for the remaining 14 minutes, but Thurrock goalkeeper Andy Woodman barely had to dirty his gloves for the entire 90 minutes.

And so now County face 180 nerve-racking minutes that will make or break their season.

County: Vaughan, L Phillips, Morgan, Davies, D Jones, Thomas, Bowen, Williams (G Jones 45), Harrhy, J Phillips (Moralee 72), Taylor (O'Sullivan 84). Subs not used: Grist, Morris. Booked: Thomas (45 foul), D Jones (61 foul), Morgan (71 foul).

Thurrock: Woodman, Collis, Davidson, Purdie, McFarlane, Goddard, Heffer, Parker (Shipp 53), Brayley (McMahon 88), Poole, Lee. Subs not used: Fletcher, Hodges, Manuel. Booked: Lee (44 foul). Sent off: Lee (45 foul, second yellow). Referee: J Cox (Evesham). Attendance: 712.