PETER Nicholas is hoping his Newport County side snap out of their goal-shy mood right away.

Optimism turned very quickly to frustration in the Spytty Park crowd on the opening day of the Dr Martens League season as the Exiles ran riot against Paul Parker's well-disciplined Welling United, however, County couldn't find that all-important finishing touch.

Newport dominated the premier- league curtain-raiser for large periods, playing some sublime football as Nicholas' men created half-a-dozen good openings, but those chances worryingly went begging.

Finding the net was a problem last season - County scored just 53 goals in 42 league games - and Nicholas will have sleepless nights until his players find that golden touch. Watching his team perform well, which County did, is pleasing for a manager, but Newport's success this season will depend on their frontmen finding that golden touch.

The hosts ran the show for the opening half-hour, and that is when they needed to convert their intense pressure into goals.

And you felt that if the Welshmen had broken the deadlock then the floodgates would have opened.

But old habits die hard.

On another day, Neil Davis might have taken the match-ball home and scored a hat trick - but right from the 12th minute it was never going to be his day.

Skipper Matt Rose (pictured) danced down the left before arrowing a low cross across the six-yard area which just missed Davis' size nines, and right-wing-back Steve Williams spurned his effort at the back post and the ball spun out.

Williams was a constant menace to the Welling defence down County's right flank, and it was a trip on the former Cardiff City trainee by Welling's new captain, Tim Hambley, that earned Newport chance number two minutes later.

Another new face, Gary Lloyd, is a dab hand at dead-ball situations, and he placed the ball down 25 yards from goal before unleashing a left-foot rocket that was heading for the top corner. United's reserve keeper, Jonathan Ventor, in for the suspended Glen Knight, had other ideas as he sprang to his right to fingertip the drive round the post.

Gareth Phillips, the new kid on the County block after being released from Swansea City, had a shot blocked before Ventor got in the way of Rose's 25-yarder and Andrew Thomas' close-range stab.

Ventor, though, was left clutching thin air when Lloyd's wicked right-wing corner eluded everyone - including Jeff Eckhardt.

Lloyd's pinpoint delivery flashed across the face of the goal, and veteran defender Eckhardt himself did not know how he missed a simple-looking header right underneath the bar from just three yards.

County, however, were warned by the threat the new-look Welling could pose as Anthony Riviere's cross-shot flummoxed Newport stopper Pat Mountain and clipped the crossbar before dropping out of play just before the interval.

Two County players - Thomas and striker Garry Shephard - both tasted glory five minutes after the break as Ventor's poor punch from Phillips' cross dropped out of the sky, but the ball hit the top of Thomas' head and ballooned over.

Former Aston Villa trainee Davis was guilty of missing the best chance on the hour-mark as Rose weaved his way into the box before crossing low, but Davis, with the goal at his mercy, blazed over from six yards.

As Rose crossed he tweaked his hamstring and had to be replaced by yet another Nicholas summer-signing, Nicky Palmer.

And Palmer himself squandered a great opportunity with five minutes remaining, when Phillips teed him up in the box, but instead of breaking the back of the net, the former Llanelli man's effort was weak.

County's cutting edge has to improve because with two visits to two of the championship favourites - big-spending Weymouth tomorrow night and last season's runners-up, Stafford Rangers, on Saturday, coming up, the Exiles will most certainly be punished for not taking their chances.

Newport County AFC (3-5-2): P Mountain; J Eckhardt, T Evans, A Thomas; S Williams, M Rose (N Palmer, 61), N Davies, G Phillips, G Lloyd; G Shephard (M Dickeson, 76), N Davis (C Rogers, 88) Subs not used: L Stone, G Wesson Welling United (4-5-1): J Ventor; B Burgess, T O'Shea, A Henry, I Cousins; D Slatter, M Fowler (D Standon, 89), T Hambley, L Watts, A Riviere (A Berkeley, 66); P Booth Subs not used: D Powell Bookings: A Riviere 17 (foul), L Watts 17 (dissent), T Hambley 25 (foul), T O'Shea 74 (dissent) Referee: Mr Simon Snartt (Bristol) Attendance: 820