MANAGER TIM Harris was fuming with his Newport County players after their Jekyll and Hyde Easter show.

The Exiles reached the heights of an excellent 3-1 win at third-placed Havant and Waterlooville on Saturday - to the dreary and dismal low of a shocking 1-0 defeat against relegation-threatened Hednesford Town yesterday at Newport Stadium.

In one of the worst games of football County fans can ever remember, Town's Stuart Airdrie bundled in a first-half winner in one of Hednesford's only attacks.

The visitors were poor, but County were even worse and Harris had steam coming out of his ears as he walked from the dug-out after the horror-show, kicking the floor and hitting the half-way line flag.

He blasted: "I am absolutely staggered, frustrated, flabbergasted whatever adjectives you want to use. Words cannot explain how I feel because how can you go from the high standard at Havant on Saturday to that yesterday.

"Within 48 hours we have gone from being a really, really good team to a really, really poor team. There is no comparison between the two performances. I am gobsmacked."

"There is no excuse for that kind of display. We were lacking in passion and desire and we did not put any hard work into the game.

"That is why we are where we are in the table and you've got to put it down to the player's attitude."

With regular stopper Pat Mountain unavailable through work commitments, veteran keeper Jon Hallworth, 36, came out of retirement and stepped in to answer Tim Harris' goalkeeping SOS.

Long-term injury victim right-winger Stuart James, who was sidelined for three months with a knee ligament problem, was named on the substitutes bench.

And Jeff Eckhardt, who normally plays at the back, again played up-front due to the current mini-striker crisis at Newport Stadium.

Much like the reverse fixture last week, Hednesford started the brighter and went in front on 24 minutes when Airdrie bundled the ball past Hallworth after County's defence didn't deal with Wayne Thomas' left-wing cross.

Newport's best chance of the first-half fell to Scott Walker, but his 20-yard shot flew well over.

Airdrie almost got his second on the stroke of half-time when his hopeful 35-yard right-foot strike caught Hallworth cold and rattled the crossbar.

Martin Paul had a half-chance on the hour mark but his 25-yard shot from Walker's pass went well wide.

Newport came closest to scoring midway through the second-half when, after good build-up down the right, Paul hit a 15-yard shot which clipped the top of the crossbar. But Hednesford should have taken the lead minutes later when a long clearance from keeper Mark Gayle was headed on by Adewale Ajetunnobi to put Davis through on goal but Hallworth made a good save to keep County in the game.

Michael Fowler went close with 13 minute remaining but he dragged his 20-yard shot wide of Gayle's right-hand-post.

In one of the poorest adverts for Dr Martens Premier League football, Hednesford won't care about their performance as the result is all that matters to Kenny Hibbitt's men whereas tenth-placed County should take a long, hard look at themselves before stepping on the pitch again next Saturday at Ilkeston.

Newport County AFC (4-4-2) J Hallworth; D Robison (c), A Thomas, B Clark, S Benton; S Walker (S Cowe, 64), M Fowler (A Stevenson, 81), M Rose, D Ryan; J Eckhardt, M Paul. Subs Not Used : S James.

Hednesford Town (4-4-2) M Gayle; M Gardiner, M Harran (c), L Barrow, R Lucas; S Airdrie, D Rae, A Brownrigg, W Thomas; N Davis, A Ajetunnobi. Subs Not Used : W Simpson, D Craven, K Francis Booking : A Brownrigg 11 (foul) Referee : Mr Dave Hennis (Stonehouse) Attendance : 722