WITH THE respective Mayors of Newport and Crawley in attendance on Saturday perhaps a draw was politically correct, although County's endeavour and continuance of their recent good form did deserve greater reward, with their young guns again impressing.

After a good start in taking the lead, County's all-too-frequent problems from the penalty spot cost them a fine chance of a clear advantage and their opponents, third in the table, were allowed to come back.

There was a clear contrast in styles, with County's new found passing game impressing despite a bumpy pitch and Crawley relying on a more direct route and, later, some time wasting as well.

Crawley opened with a trio of off-target efforts but County, seeking a Dr Martens League double over their opponents, grabbed the lead with a quality goal on 20 minutes. Darren Ryan set off on a meandering run and Allan Stevenson, one of seven youngsters in the fourteen-man squad, headed in his excellent cross.

Twelve minutes later, there were thoughts of a good margin of victory as Martin Paul was spread-eagled by Crawley 'keeper Andy Little inside the penalty area, the positioning of a couple of fellow defenders preventing a red card for Little, although he did get a yellow.

Alas, the penalty was struck straight at Little by Scott Walker, the latest of a number of squad failures from the spot.

It was almost inevitable that Crawley would gain from the let-off and so it proved with Dave Stevens put away on the right, the striker gaining an extra advantage with his shot clipping Darren Robison to take it past Pat Mountain.

A shoulder injury, which looks likely to rule Darren Ryan out of tonight's game with Folkestone and possibly beyond, saw the former Merthyr man replaced at half time by young striker Lewis Sommers. Sommers, fresh from playing for the youth team just a couple of hours earlier, had the crowd on their feet within a couple of minutes as he combined superbly with Stevenson, who shot inches wide into the side netting.

The game suddenly had a couple of debatable decisions and frustration led to three bookings in as many minutes. Walker almost atoned for his earlier misjudgement from twelve yards but was narrowly wide from long range and both Martin Paul, from a Steve Cowe cross, and Billy Clark, from a Walker corner, headed just over the Crawley crossbar.

Despite having to settle for a point, County go up to eighth and success tonight against Folkestone (7.45) will yield yet more upward progress for a side that looks to have found an ideal, and entertaining, blend of youth and experience.

Newport County: P Mountain, D Robison, M Fowler, B Clark, A Thomas, N Davies, A Stevenson, S Walker, D Ryan (L Sommers 46), M Paul, S Cowe (R Edwards 86). Sub. D Lewis.

Crawley Town: A Little, I Payne (L Anderson 79), J Dack, K Sharman (D Harlow 90), M Pullen, B Judge, D Carroll, S Holmes, D Stevens, B Abbey (R Collins 84), L Doherty. Attendance: 653.

Bookings: Newport County - M Paul (60-foul), N Davies (62-foul). Crawley Town: A Little (32 foul), J Dack (63-foul).

* County's youth team clinched runners-up spot in the South-West Counties League with a 3-0 win over Salisbury City on Saturday with goals from Shaun Pearce, Lewis Sommers and Chris Wilson. The squad are also in the running to win the League Cup.

* At Saturday's game, Newport County AFC presented a cheque for £7,650 to the Mayor of Newport, Cllr Ron Morris for the Mayoral Charitable Donation Fund, the money coming from FA Charity Shield revenue and made available to the club for charitable purposes as a direct result of their reaching the First Round Proper of the FA Cup. The Mayoral Charity for the current year is the Gwent Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit.

*In the picture: County's Billy Clarke, right, battles with Crawley Town's Dave Stevens.