NEWPORT County claimed a valuable point in Kent on Saturday at promotion-chasing Welling United, but will feel extremely aggrieved not to have taken all three.

A scandalous decision by referee Barry Knight, right at the end of the game, denied County what looked a nailed-on penalty and led to the contest ending bitterly as the official completely lost control of the game.

County, who travelled to Welling on the back of four successive victories and four clean sheets, totally dominated the home side throughout the second half but couldn't force a winner in a fiery contest.

It is a measure of the progress Peter Beadle's side have made in the past five weeks that a draw can be seen as anything other than a fine result (it keeps County three points clear of the drop zone), but against a Welling outfit who have lost just once at home all season, County were often on the front foot.

Beadle replaced departed midfielder Andy Legg with Gary Fisken on Saturday; otherwise County were unchanged from Wednesday's win over Hayes.

They began the game brightly on a glorious spring afternoon and got the ball down and played some enterprising football on a super playing surface at the compact Park View Road ground.

This industrious football led to half-chances for Fisken and striker Craig Hughes, but after 16 minutes County took the lead.

A scintillating run down the right flank by Jason Bowen caused panic in the Welling ranks, with defender Lee Gledhill just denying Fisken a tap-in after Bowen's deep cross.

However, the home side failed to clear and Fisken scrambled the ball back out to Bowen, who rifled home a left-foot volley through a crowd of players from 18 yards out.

County were buoyed by the goal and continued to search for a second, but on 22 minutes the home side equalised.

The goal came after midfielder Ashley Williams gave away possession, allowing Danny Kedwell to chip a ball over a decidedly slow County back line.

Central defender Ian Hillier and John Brough both hesitated and dangerous right-winger Martin Carthy nipped in behind them and lobbed goalkeeper Tony Pennock.

It was a poor goal to give away and the County defenders - who have worked so hard to keep four successive clean sheets - were hugely disappointed to see their run of shut-outs come to an end in sloppy fashion.

The goal clearly took the wind out of County's sails and Carthy should have put his side in front two minutes later, but he missed the target with a free header from six yards out.

County again survived a scare on 35 minutes as the home side began to dominate - striker Steve Perkins' header following a corner was superbly cleared off the goal line by Williams with Pennock beaten.

Perkins then saw a well-struck shot well saved by Pennock, as the home side went in perhaps unlucky not to be in front.

Captain and goal-scorer Jason Bowen was forced off at the interval with a calf strain - replaced by Sam O'Sullivan, who had an enormous impact in the second half.

O'Sullivan took his opportunity to impress and he terrified left-back Leon Solomon with his pace and direct running; the full back was turned more times than a pint of milk left in the Nevada desert.

O'Sullivan almost provided a goal for Matt Green on 55 minutes after a strong run and cross, and he himself was denied five minutes later after latching on to Fisken's cross, only to see home goalkeeper Jamie Turner make a fine save.

Craig Hughes then fired wide after being set up by O'Sullivan before O'Sullivan missed a golden chance of 75 minutes, screwing a tame shot wide of the goal after he ghosted past Soloman to give himself a one-on-one with Turner.

By this stage the second half was clearly only going to produce one winner, Welling ran out of attacking ideas and were reduced to long-range efforts that Pennock was always equal to, his stop on 78 minutes to deny substitute Che Stadhart the pick of the bunch.

With time running out County did create a winning opportunity, but referee Knight intervened.

Nathan Davies' cross on 89 minutes was innocuous enough, but defender Barry Ashby jumped with his arms above his head and turned his back on the ball, which struck his left arm.

The linesman, who was five yards away with an unobstructed view, instantly flagged for a penalty.

The referee was not as close to the incident and didn't have an unobstructed view, but after consulting the linesman, who still maintained it was a penalty, the referee overruled him and decided it was not a deliberate handball.

County's players and manager Peter Beadle were incensed and the game developed a spiky edge in injury time, when an innocent enough challenge led to a mass brawl in the County penalty area.

Twenty-one players (excluding Welling 'keeper Jamie Turner) were involved as the brawl piled into the goal-net, it was like watching a tug-of-war without a rope!

The referee tried in vain to break the players up as several punches were thrown. Manager Beadle, his assistant, Scott Young, Welling boss Adrian Pinnock and his assistant, Phil Handford, all went onto the pitch to try to restore order.

Referee Knight brandished just one red card and one yellow, Paul Cochlin booked for Newport and Danny Kedwell sent off for Welling as an enjoyable game ended on rather a sour note.

Welling: Turner, Gledhill, Solomon, Guest, Ashby, Owen, Carthy, Kedwell, Bodkin (Pinnock, 80), Perkins (Rowland 63), Day (Stadhart 63). Subs not used: Jjunju, Moore. Sent off: Kedwell (violent conduct 90).

County: Pennock, Thomas, Cochlin, Davies, Brough, Hillier, Bowen (O'Sullivan 46), Williams, Green, Hughes, Fisken. Subs not used: Bailey, Bater, Blackburn, Toppar. Booked: Cochlin (violent conduct 90). Referee: Barry Knight (Kent). Attendance: 629.