THERE are great goals, scrappy goals, lucky goals, own goals and goals which defy belief. Right now Tim Harris would settle for any of the above.

For the umpteenth time this season, on Saturday, Harris' Newport County side failed to convert a host of chances as they drew 0-0 at home with Havant & Waterlooville.

This time it was Steve Cowe who was guilty of missing two golden opportunities to give the Exiles the confidence-boosting win they so desperately need.

In another time County would have been two-nil up by half time and cruising, it is just unfortunate that a side lacking confidence came up against an opposing goalkeeper who clearly has no such worries.

Aaron Kerr may only be 19, but he is one to watch for the future. Having already played three first team games for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Kerr is tipped soon to be on his way to Tranmere.

One-on-one with Cowe, there was only ever likely to be one winner.

Having dominated the early exchanges, County worked an opening after 10 minutes, D'Auria cut the ball inside and Garry Shephard flicked the ball through to the unmarked Cowe. Kerr stood tall, and the County striker's weak shot was easily parried away.

The home side continued to dominate and although defender Billy Clark was booked for a foul on Warren Houghton on the edge of the box, the visitors wasted the resulting free kick.

Moment later Cowe was free again, a long ball from Pat Mountain created confusion in the Havant defence, but again Cowe could only fire the ball straight at Kerr with the goal begging.

For their part Havant & Waterlooville never looked like scoring. That was in no small part due to a County defence which is looking as solid as ever. It is now 360 minutes of football since Harris' men conceded a goal and once they solve their problems at the other end of the field winning should not be a problem.

The only concern must be the right side of midfield, for while D'Auria balances the left, too often on Saturday County were forced to go down the middle because there was nobody open on the right.

Overall though County played well in pretty appalling conditions. The rain which had fallen steadily all day continued to drive down and the swirling wind which accompanied it made life extremely difficult for both sides.

The second half continued in much the same manner as the first, and although County stepped up a gear their chances were few and far between.

As conditions worsened so too did tempers and Nathan Davies, Matt Rose and Havant's skipper Neil Champion all went into the book after Davies had been sandwiched by Champion and striker James Taylor.

Both Rose and Shephard tested the keeper, and in the County goal Mountain was called into action to deal with a couple of long range efforts from Chris Ferrett, but neither side looked like breaking the deadlock.

As the game came to a scrappy conclusion, Paul Wood and Taylor followed skipper Champion into the referee's book, as County pushed forward desperately seeking that elusive first goal.

Even in the dying seconds when subsitute Scott Walker got to the byline and pulled the ball back, it managed to evade both Shephard and Davis and summed up County's day.

Newport County: P Mountain, A Thomas, S Benton, B Clark, J Eckhardt, N Davies, M Rose, D D'Auria, N Davis (R Plant 80), G Shephard, S Cowe (S Walker 70). Subs not used: M Fowler, D Ryan, T Hart. Booked: Clark, Davies, Rose.

Havant & Waterlooville: A Kerr, N Champion, C Ferrett, A Mason, L Middleton, C Hanson, P Wood (J Ford 82), D Blake, B Howe, J Taylor, W Houghton. Subs not used: Wes Chalmers, N Davis, Lois Savage, R White. Booked: Champion, Wood, Taylor.