Newport County 1 CAMBRIDGE CITY 1

BY the time Newport County return to Spytty Park for their next Dr Martens Premier League home fixture, their status in this division will hopefully be secure for another season.

For while the Exiles lie in seemingly safe tenth place, they are actually precariously only five points from the relegation zone.

Prior to the Exiles' Newport Stadium league meeting with high-flying Stafford Rangers, currently second, in three weeks time, County have four crunch games with sides also battling the drop.

The Newport tour bus stops at Halesowen, Hastings, Welling and Ilkeston - three of whom are in the bottom four - before their next league game on home turf and Peter Nicholas knows wins are imperative.

The County manager might have been impressed with his side's performances, but their form has given him and Newport's supporters sleepless nights.

County haven't picked up three points since beating Hinckley United 3-2 at home on January 4, eight league games ago. And since then, Newport have only scored three goals and picked up four points out of a possible 24.

But if Nicholas can get the best out of his troops and they embark on a winning run like the end of last season, County could lift themselves into the top five - that's how close this league is.

Their 1-1 draw with Cambridge City on Saturday had its fair share of thrills and spills - but Newport lacked real urgency and, on occasions, looked disjointed.

Neil Davis, back after a long injury lay-off, scored Newport's first league goal in four outings and helped his side avoid a record-equalling five consecutive defeats.

At the other end, Pat Mountain was stretchered with a knee injury after 20 minutes and, as County didn't name a substitute goalkeeper, centre-back Jeff Eckhardt donned the gloves.

Mountain had just made a crucial save from Kevin Wilkin before the Welsh semi-pro stopper, being challenged by two attackers, twisted in the air and landed awkwardly.

With Eckhardt in goal, the experienced centre-back trio of Jason Perry, Billy Clark and substitute Andrew Thomas sat back to protect him.

Newport looked the brighter after that incident as Mike Fowler tested Cambridge stopper Martin Davis to the full before County's all-important goal.

Striker Davis latched on to a ricochet after another Fowler shot, then swivelled to smash the ball home in the 38th minute to the relief of the home faithful.

With a tad more composure, Davis could have - and should have - made it two five minutes later, but he hit Garry Shephard's pass straight at his namesake in the Cambridge goal from 12 yards.

The visitors got the ball in the net just after the hour mark, but referee Cameron Dawes chalked off Cambridge skipper Colin Vowden's effort for an infringement on Eckhardt.

But City striker Kevin Wilkin drew his side level with 18 minutes to go but it wasn't without controversy.

Newport's players claimed right-back Chris Collins, standing on the far post, had cleared the ball before it crossed the line, however Willenhall-based official Dawes waved away their protests.

In the circumstances, Nicholas would have settled for a point but knows wins are now needed.