AFTER their FA Cup humbling by Team Bath, Newport County were aiming for an FAW Premier Cup quarter-final date at Spytty Park with one of Welsh football's 'big four' to scrape in some much-needed revenue - but that place is now very much in the balance.

Ten-man Connah's Quay shocked County with a late equaliser, much like they did in North Wales last month, in a 1-1 Group B draw at Newport Stadium last night, leaving County with an uphill task to reach the lucrative last eight where qualifiers net a £15,000 cheque plus gate receipts.

The Exiles face tough trips to TNS and Bangor City, who finished second and third, respectively, in last season's League of Wales, and also welcome Bangor, but with five points from a possible nine County have it all to do if they are to win a home quarter-final tie with Cardiff City, Wrexham, Swansea City or Barry Town.

But the Exiles have themselves to blame as they squandered half-a-dozen clear-cut chances to put the game beyond Connah's Quay last night on a far-from-perfect surface.

Newport's lack of penetration in front of goal is giving County chief Tim Harris nightmares. They have scored just five times in six games.

"We seem to be petrified in front of goal," sighed Harris. "We created loads of chances, but lacked conviction when it mattered. If we don't score that all-important second goal then we are wide open for the sucker-punch - and that's what happened.

"We deserved a result, it's two points dropped. We'll have to work hard to ensure we don't keep missing chances."

County midfielder Scott Walker opened the scoring in the 18th minute when his 25-yard left-foot driven free-kick, after Steve Cowe was felled, left Nomads keeper David Walsh standing.

But Newport missed chances to extend their lead, striker Garry Shephard headed just over and Nathan Davies, two years without a score, went close twice.

Stand-in County skipper Jeff Eckhardt, Cowe, Walker and young forward Raith Plant, given a chance to prove himself, all missed good chances while at the other end teenage defender Andrew Thomas earned the biggest applause of the night from the modest crowd when his diving header on the goal-line kept out a fierce Craig Hutchinson strike.

The North Walians were reduced to ten men in the 70th minute when defender Carl Butler received his second caution in four minutes after a clumsy challenge on Cowe.

But with eight minutes to go Stuart Rain found space in the Newport box as he nodded Tommy Mutton's left-wing cross past Mountain.

Newport County P Mountain; A Thomas, J Eckhardt (c), B Clark, S Benton; S Cowe, N Davies (M Rose, 76), M Fowler, S Walker; G Shephard (N Davis, 64), R Plant. Subs Not Used: J Dupres, D Ryan, T Hart

Connah's Quay Nomads D Walsh; C Butler, G Horan, S Hopkins (c); S Terry, P Mazzarella, C Hutchinson, J Kenworthy, A Griffiths; S Rain, T Mutton Subs Not Used: J roberts, P Borrowman, J Wilday Booked: T Mutton 41 (dissent), P Mazzarella 44 (foul), C Butler 66 (foul), A Griffiths 75 (foul), C Hutchinson 87 (dissent) Sent-off: C Butler 70.