Newport County 2 Stafford Ranger 2

A last-gasp equaliser from Jeff Eckhardt salvaged a vital point for County in their Dr Martens Premier Division clash with Stafford Rangers.

Eckhardt's goal in the 85th minute levelled the scores at two all and went some way to rescuing County pride.

The big defender rose unchallenged in the Ranger's penalty area and headed home a Stuart James' cross past the helpless Richard Williams.

It was a harsh outcome for the visitors who for the majority of the game outplayed their hosts and would have fully deserved to take three points from the encounter.

But, despite rescuing a point, there are worrying signs that County are still struggling to gel as a team.

On several occasions during Saturday's performance the Exiles looked more like 11 individuals.

It was all so different at the start of the game though, as County took the lead with just 10 minutes gone.

James won a free kick near the right touchline deep inside the Rangers' half. He played it short to Scott Walker who hit a thunderous shot from 25 yards into the corner of the Rangers' goal. County then proceeded to spurn a series of golden opportunities to increase their lead.

Just minutes after scoring Walker turned provider, getting clear down the left. His wicked cross beat the Rangers defence only for Garry Shephard and Stuart James both to fail to make contact.

County had Rangers on the back foot and defender Darren Simkins was booked for the visitors following a late tackle on Steve Cowe.

But with every opportunity that Newport missed Rangers' confidence grew and with skipper Scott Dundas urging them on they started to take control of the game.

The Stafford skipper should have put his side level after half an hour, a swinging cross from Steven Prindiville round Dundaf unmarked on the County penalty spot.

His flying header beat Pat Mountain only to rebound off the crossbar, but with the County defence in disarray he still had time to get up and fire the rebound well wide.

County, though, were beginning to show signs of confusion and two goals in the space of a minute changed the face of the game.

First on 38 minutes winger Shaun Wray rounded Ryan Souter like he wasn't there before his deep cross found striker Paul Kiely unmarked at the far post.

With Eckhardt and Billy Clark waving desperately for relief from the linesman Kiely headed past Mountain in the County goal.

If the defending for the first goal had been bad, for the second it was criminal. Wray was again involved, his run allowed Leigh Everitt to swing a cross in from the right.

Rangers' striker Tony Eccleston, who was being watched by Eckhardt and Clark managed to outjump both and guide a header low into the County goal.

In the second half Rangers again dominated proceedings, and but for a string of fine saves by Mountain would have put the game beyond County. With Wray causing endless problems down the flanks and County's front men struggling manager Tim Harris brought on Steve Benton and Nathan Davies for Souter and Martin Paul.

It had little effect, Rangers had the measure of County and towards the end of the game had reduced their hosts to pumping hopeful long balls upfield.

Fortune however, was smiling on the home side. With all Rangers' substitutes used Eccleston was injured in a clash with Eckhardt.

While he was off receiving treatment, the County defender took advantage of a disorganised Rangers' defence to put his side level and go some way to redeeming himself for his earlier failings. * In the picture: Newport County's Garry Shephard is tackled in the penalty box by Stafford Rangers' Stuart Ryder.