LEGENDARY American author Mark Twain once wrote "the more things change, the more they stay the same" and that was the case at Newport Stadium on Saturday as County ran the show against Cambridge City only to go down to a sloppy late goal.

Peter Nicholas may have gone as manager but it was the familiar tale of chances missed and a bad goal conceded that threaten to send County's promotion hopes down the Swanee River.

Just as on Tuesday at Dorchester and countless other times in the last year or so, County started brightly and played some nice football.

But they lacked a cutting edge, shown in the opening spell when they had FIVE corners in the first nine minutes and 13 overall that did not trouble Alan Carlton in the Cambridge goal.

In a fairly entertaining first period, County played some pretty stuff and had their visitors hanging on.

Jamie Moralee, Andrew Thomas and John Phillips all had shots blocked in desperate fashion and Jonathan Coates had a header tipped over the bar.

At the other end Lee Thomas almost headed into his own net and City's Robbie Simpson clattered the post before Dale Binns blasted the rebound miles wide.

The second half opened in similar fashion and Jason Bowen, who had a fairly productive afternoon, whipped over a cross that Ashley Williams met clean on the volley.

Just how 'keeper Carlton managed to divert the ball on to the bar I don't know, but he pulled off a quite ridiculous save from point blank range and John Phillips could not put away the rebound.

That was as close as County went all afternoon.

Kevin Aherne-Evans fired a stinging shot just wide but Cambridge grew in confidence and Richard Scott, Binns and Sadler all had pops from distance.

County 'keeper Roger Freestone had to look lively after Sadler headed goalwards, but the big stopper was not quite as clever with 16 minutes remaining as City grabbed the winner.

Binns cut inside from the left flank and fired a low shot on target that Freestone could only parry and after a bit of a melee, Simpson managed to turn and slot the ball home.

The former Swansea goalkeeper has made a bit of a habit of blundering recently and that must be a cause for concern.

At the death Binns could have made it worse as he blazed over from close range, but County could have played until midnight without scoring.

It was County's third defeat on the bounce and 311 minutes have now passed since they last scored a goal.

A new manager will hopefully be in charge sooner rather than later. County fans will be hoping he brings a magic wand.

Newport County: Freestone, L Phillips, Morgan (Passmore 54), Thomas, Jones, Williams (Davies 68), Bowen, Aherne-Evans, Moralee, J Phillips (O'Sullivan 68), Coates. Subs: Wilson-Denis, Jones. Booked: Thomas (36min, deliberate handball).

Cambridge City: Carlton, Pope, Chaffey, Fuff, Langston, Scott, Miler, Williams (Huke 73), Sadler, Fewings (Simpson 16), Binns. Sub: Summerscales. Booked: Scott (58min, foul). Referee: M Hawken (St. Austell). Attendance: 803.