A FIRST-HALF penalty from Padraig Amond earned Newport County AFC a 1-1 draw with Egyptian Premier League champions Al Ahly in a friendly in Spain.

Amond put County ahead from the spot after 22 minutes at the Pinatar Arena in Murcia.

Substitute Ahmed El Sheikh levelled for the Cairo-based club in the 53rd minute.

Left wing-back George Nurse, whose loan signing from Bristol City has yet to be confirmed by the club, started for County.

Mickey Demetriou, whose new contract has yet to be confirmed by the club, was amongst the substitutes.

Youngsters Lewis Collins and Momodou Touray also started for the Exiles alongside summer signings Tom King, Marvel Ekpiteta, Lazar Stojsavljevic and Corey Whitely.

Fellow new boy Daniel Leadbitter was sent off late on after coming off the bench.

Goalkeeper Nick Townsend, utility man Scot Bennett, winger Keanu Marsh-Brown and striker Ade Azeez were not involved.

County: King; Willmott, Ekpiteta, O’Brien, Stojsavljevic, Nurse; Dolan, Collins, Whitely; Amond, Touray

Subs: Demetriou, Howkins, Leadbitter, Labadie, Sheehan, Matt