NEWPORT County goalkeeper Pat Mountain turned on a five-star show against Cambridge City in their 2-2 draw at Spytty Park in the Premier Division of the Dr Martens League on Saturday - but he still wasn't happy.
Mountain, capped by Wales at Under-15 and now coaching the present U-15 squad, said: "It was so disappointing. It felt as if we had lost when we came off." County were twice in front but gave away two goals which robbed them of a third successive win.
And they could easily have thrown it away completely as Mountain, delighted to be passing on his knowledge to the age group for whom he once represented his country, didn't put a foot wrong. His handling was excellent.
His best was a spectacular 15th minute save to deny Kevin Wilkin from the unmarked Dan Chillingworth's downward header.
Mountain said: "I knew I couldn't get to the cross. I reached to the header and somehow got it over the bar."
Tim Harris, County manager, said: "I think he seems to be getting better. He is very competent, doing a very good job and long may it continue."
County went ahead after 27 minutes with a penalty from Garry Shephard, blasting home the spot-kick awarded when skipper Darren Robison was sent tumbling by midfield player Neil Mustoe, on loan from Cambridge United.
There should have been a second County penalty nine minutes later when Darren Ryan was floored by a challenge from Jon Challinor. The refusal of Bristol referee Kevin Johnson to award a penalty was one of several perplexing decisions.
He could have spared County £4.40 in expenses - the cost of crossing the Severn Bridge into Wales - by staying on the English side. He was not helped by one assistant who had difficulty deciding whether the ball had crossed the touchline for a throw-in on a couple of occasions.
County had a number of first-half escapes, Steve Holden hitting the angle of crossbar and a post after 13 minutes and an equaliser three minutes from half-time was not a surprise, strikers Wilkin and Chillingworth often causing problems and it was so easy for the latter to score from Wilkin's cross.
Mountain made an early second-half save from Chillingworth and County just couldn't raise their game - until firstly the 68th minute arrival of Scott Walker and then Martin Paul five minutes later. The change in County was verging on breathtaking.
Walker forced Cambridge keeper Matt Nurse into his best save of the game and the crowd were still buzzing when Walker whacked home a 78th minute goal. Jeff Eckhardt immediately went back to defence from striker and County looked safe. Wrong! County's defence once again went walkabout and Chillingworth punished them with a 79th-minute equaliser.
Cambridge appealed for a penalty when the ball struck Eckhardt and Chillingworth was booked for protesting too loudly and substitute Jason Perry was cautioned for a late challenge.
Walker tried to stage a dramatic County win but his late effort was saved by Nurse and the frustration was clear at the end.
Harris said: "Twice we got ourselves into a winning situation and threw it away. We have been punished for being sloppy.
"We think we are getting there with two straight wins and then we take a step back. We have gone to try and win the game and suddenly we let them back in again. "We can't blame the referee for the goals we conceded. They were poor goals to let in and it is undoubtedly two points dropped."
A half-time collection for the dependents of the American terrorist tragedy realised £120.
A hat-trick from Matthew Shearman paved the way for County Youth's home 7-0 win over Clevedon on Saturday at the YMCA ground in the Forester's Health South West Counties League.
County were 4-0 ahead at half-time and their other goals came from Allan Stevenson, Wayne Antoniazzi, Michael Evans and an own goal.
*PICTURED: Cambridge City's Matt Nurse collects the ball
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article