Newport County need a distinct touch of fine-tuning if they are to be considered realistic promotion contenders next season - and how manager Peter Nicholas knows it.

Their 1-0 defeat at Ilkeston Town last night was the 14th time they've lost by the odd-goal this season - but what will disappoint Nicholas most is that County hardly tested opposition goalkeeper Andy Love once throughout the whole 90 minutes.

Last night's match at the New Manor Ground was only Ilkeston's sixth success of the Dr Martens League Premier Division campaign and only partially eases their relegation worries.

County, on the other hand, won't go down but are still too close to the drop-zone for comfort. However, they shouldn't be looking over their shoulders, they should be looking onwards and upwards towards the Nationwide Conference.

Football, though, is not an exact science.

Aaron O'Connor's 75th-minute goal for Ilkeston was the vital breakthrough last night to extend Town's unbeaten run to five matches.

The striker dashed on to Chris Freestone's through pass, shrugged off Billy Clark and rammed the ball past Gareth Wesson in the County goal.

But Newport should have snatched a late equaliser, Richard French squandering two good chances, one an absolute sitter.

The young winger, replacing rested Chris Collins, pounced on to Nathan Davies' pass but, from ten yards out, blazed the ball over the bar - and stand - with goalkeeper Love diving at his feet.

French's chance apart, the Exiles didn't test Love's goal at all.

And County were forced into two last-ditch goal-line clearances - one which saved Newport defender Jeff Eckhardt from having egg on his face.

The veteran miss-cued his clearing header from Tony Hemmings' left-wing corner and the ball flew towards the top corner of the goal, but French was on hand to head clear just before the break.

Then, with 20 minutes to go, Freestone's 12-yard drive was deflected and on its way in before Steve Benton, the County left-wing-back, hooked the ball away.

Ilkeston also had loud claims for a penalty waved away by Sheffield referee Gary Lomas after Leon Kelly went to ground after a Clark challenge.

Newport's players must look at themselves long and hard as they were defeated by a side that looked doomed to fall through the premier league trap-door.

The Exiles, quite simply, should have the character and battling qualities to beat the Ilkestons of this world.

But County don't beat these types of teams often enough. Nicholas knows that and that's why changes in personnel are expected at Newport Stadium this summer.

Ilkeston Town (4-4-2): A Love; N Hudson, B Wooley, M Lever, J Atkinson; C Freestone, S Coates, I Robinson (c), T Hemmings; A O'Connor, L Kelly Subs not used: A Murdock, L Evans, A Anderson, T Williams, T Brown

Booked: I Robinson 25 (foul)

Newport County AFC (5-3-2): G Wesson; J Eckhardt, J Perry, B Clark, R French, N Davies, M Rose (c) (A Stevenson, 87), M Fowler, S Benton (A Thomas, 80), K Dimond (J Fox, 77), N Davis Subs not used: J Phillips, C Collins

Referee : Mr G Lomas (Sheffield)

Attendance: 312