County.......3 Thurrock....4

THE biggest crowd of the season at Spytty Park was treated to a goal-feast on Saturday, but unfortunately a bruised and battered Newport County lost out as their season ended in something of an anti-climax.

It was a shame in many respects, County squandered a 3-2 lead and were the better side for much of the game. But the bigger picture is that Saturday's game was an afterthought, the key issue was congratulating the players and staff of County for completing their own version of the Great Escape with a win last weekend at Cambridge City.

As it was the crowd were treated to a hugely entertaining game, with pride all that was at stake for both sides, who contributed in equal measure as County tried to build on a run that has seen them beaten just once in their last ten games.

Striker Craig Hughes dinked the ball over the goalkeeper with some aplomb to open the scoring.

However, Thurrock never looked like rolling over and within nine minutes they were level.

It was a good goal as well, the game's outstanding player, Sam Sloma, burst into the County half and his teasing cross was headed home at the back post by midfielder Barry Moore.

Just a minute later Garry Cross was inches away from giving the visitors a lead, but the Essex supporters didn't have long to wait to celebrate.

On 33 minutes Sloma burst into the penalty area and slipped the ball in between Andrew Thomas and John Brough to striker Kris Lee, who found the bottom corner of the net.

It spurred County back to life and on 36 minutes they made it two apiece, a woeful back-pass and Matthew Prosser scored his first competitive goal with a low finish.

Hughes limped off at this point to be replaced by Nathan Bailey, and in the second half skipper Jason Bowen and John Brough were also substituted with injuries.

Bowen was replaced by whippet Tyrone Toppar, and the speedster wasted two decent chances in the early exchanges in the second half.

With just 15 minutes remaining it appeared County had done it. Nathan Davies picked up a cross from Toppar, cut inside and then hammered the ball past Thurrock goalkeeper Glenn Knight.

It was a stunning goal, but unfortunately injured County reverted to the 'dark side' with their defending and they were duly punished.

Thurrock got their winner when Davies surrendered possession and Cross slipped the ball through to Parker, who found the net for the second time.

Nevertheless, County left the field with a guard of honour.

So an exciting contest ended with just one question remaining: what on Earth are we all going to do on a Saturday afternoon for the next three and a half months?

Answers on a postcard, please.

County: Pennock, Thomas, Cochlin, Davies, Brough (Bater 56), Hillier, Bowen (Toppar 51), Williams, Prosser, Hughes (Bailey 37), O'Sullivan. Subs not used: Hearne, Blackburn. Booked: Hillier (foul, 81).

Thurrock: Knight, Purdie, Goodfellow, Moore, Fletcher (Smith 86), Sloma, S Parker, Heffer, Lee, Janney, Cross. Subs not used: Thomas, Lewis, Glover, A Parker. Booked: Sloma (foul, 56).

Referee: Neil Radford (Worcester).

Attendance: 1,148.