NEWPORT County AFC produced comfortably their worst performance of Warren Feeney’s reign to slip to a demoralising defeat at Crawley Town.

County had won on five out of six visits to the Broadfield Stadium but they were second best throughout on this occasion as the Reds completed the double over the Exiles.

They also ended a four-game unbeaten run under Feeney, during which top scorer Scott Boden had netted five goals.

This time the striker scored at the wrong end as he headed into his own net in the first half and Shamir Fenelon nodded in a second after the break.

Feeney had made one change from the side that beat Mansfield Town 1-0 on Saturday with Yan Klukowski replacing Scott Barrow in midfield.

New loan signing Jake Gosling was on the bench after finally receiving international clearance for his move from Bristol Rovers.

If the visitors’ side had a settled look about it, that was in stark contrast to the Crawley starting XI.

Manager Mark Yates made six changes following what he described as a ‘pathetic’ performance in a 2-0 defeat at Leyton Orient.

Yates, who is assisted by former Exiles boss Jimmy Dack, demanded a big reaction from his team.

And they started as if they had a point to prove with Wales Under-21 international Gwion Edwards the main man.

The former Swansea City youngster, who put the final nails in Terry Butcher’s coffin with two goals in Crawley’s 3-0 victory at Rodney Parade in September, was swarming all over Exiles defender Ben Davies.

He twice beat the left-back in the early stages, first crossing for Matt Harrold to fire high and wide and then seeing Darren Jones clear the danger.

Edwards, who was celebrating his 23rd birthday on St David’s Day, was being given far too much time and space to hurt County.

The right winger cut inside with a mazy run through the middle of the visitors’ defence but Joe Day was equal to his low shot.

Edwards then crossed for defender Sonny Bradley but his hooked effort was easily gathered by Day.

County were offering very little in attack and looking jittery at the back and it was no surprise when the hosts broke the deadlock on 36 minutes courtesy of Boden.

Back defending a corner, the striker attempted to clear an in-swinger at the near post but the ball skipped off the top of his head and beyond Day to nestle in the far corner.

That finally sparked Feeney’s men into life with Conor Wilkinson forcing Reds stopper Paul Jones into a first save seven minutes before the break.

Wilkinson then went close again as his low shot was deflected behind and Mark Byrne’s cross almost crept under the bar before Jones tipped it over.

In stoppage time Klukowski’s cross from the right was headed wide by Boden.

County had ended the first half on top but Crawley soon reasserted their dominance after the break with Edwards again in the thick of the action, forcing Day into a fine save early on.

And the crucial second goal arrived on 53 minutes as the Exiles once again failed to deal with a corner kick.

Bradley flicked the ball on at the near post and Fenelon powered a header in from close range to put his side in control.

Feeney made a double substitution with Janoi Donacien and Dean Moragn replacing Davies and John-Christophe Ayina and then threw on new boy Gosling.

But they couldn’t turn the tide and Medy Elito was shown a second yellow card late on to complete a miserable night for all but one Welshman.

County: Day, Holmes, Jones, Hughes, Davies (Donacien, 58), Ayina (Morgan, 58), Klukowski (Gosling, 73), Byrne, Elito, Boden, Wilkinson

Subs not used: Barrow, Green, Owen-Evans, Meechan

Booked: Davies, Elito, Wilkinson

Sent off: Elito

Referee: Tim Robinson

Attendance: 2,003 (105 County)

Argus star man: Byrne