FRUSTRATING. That is the only way to describe Newport County at the moment as their five game unbeaten run was ended by hosts Tamworth's 2-0 win.

The North Birmingham side did not really deserve the three points which briefly took them to the top of the Dr Martens League Premier Division, but once again County lacked the killer instinct to finish off their chances and get on the score sheet.

Newport manager Tim Harris struggled to find the right words following his side's defeat, such was his disappointment.

Dejected Newport players warmed down after the game knowing they were muscled out of the match and they were left to rue their mistakes and poor fortune.

Harris said: "Disappointed is a word I have used far too frequently this season, we are not just getting the breaks at the moment."

A soft goal inside the first ten minutes was gifted to Darren Roberts and a shot hit from the tightest of angles by Nick Colley late in the game sealed the win, but Newport can do so much better.

Having begun the game slowly, Newport found themselves under a lot of pressure early on and the goal which had been threatened arrived through Roberts.

Some good build up work from Tamworth on the edge of the penalty area saw Colley play an innocuous ball into the area which was not dealt with by County and Roberts pounced on his chance to put his side ahead. The game evened out after that and Newport started threading chances together and Perry had a determined shot drift wide, but equally Tamworth had several chances with Dennis Bailey and Colley organising their attacks.

County twice hit the woodwork in one move as Shephard whipped a ball into Paul whose shot crashed onto the woodwork after beating the keeper.

The rebound eventually fell to Newport's Steve Cowe and his shot was saved onto the crossbar. County manager Tim Harris and their band of travelling fans were left contemplating their bad luck.

After the break, both sides enjoyed chances and County were adamant they deserved a penalty when Perry went down in the penalty area, but their appeals fell on deaf ears. With Newport pushing forward for the crucial goal, Tamworth made a fast break and with three attackers bearing down on lone County defender Darren Robison, Colley was put clear.

County's keeper Pat Mountain produced another quality save, but Colley stabbed at the rebound for an optimistic cross under pressure from the retreating Tamworth defence and the ball squeezed home through the tightest of angles.

There was simply not enough time left for Newport to sneak a consolation goal although there was a bad injury to Mark Turner following a clash of heads with County's Robison. The Tamworth player was taken to hospital for stitches to a head injury, but it was County who were left licking thier wounds.

"When they went one-nil up, we didn't lose our composure, we had a lot of possession, kept it nice and tight, but the chances just aren't falling for us," said Harris.

"They had a fortunate break when we pushed forward, how Colley's goal went in, I'll never know. We should have had a penalty in the second half and I have just told the boys in the dressing room they have to believe in themselves, because sooner or later our chances are going to go in.

"No exaggeration, but we must have hit the bar twenty times this season and we need a few of those to go.

"We have to stick together, but defeat is hard to swallow at the moment." Strikers Martin Paul and Garry Shephard worked tirelessly in attack and while the goals are not flowing chances are being created.

"I can't fault the lads up front at the moment and they were applauded by the fans coming off the pitch, some of them really got behind the lads.

"The fans will back us through thick and thin as long as we are putting in the effort and I have to say we were disappointed not to come away with something from this game," he added.

*PICTURED: Newport County's Gary Shephard on Saturday.