Weston 1 - County 1

A WONDER strike from Danny Rose deep into injury time rescued County last night as they deservedly secured a point at Weston.

It seemed County's luck was out before former Exile Andy Gurney was sent off deep into stoppage time contesting the freekick that Rose curled stunningly into the top corner of the net.

A deluge of rain in the late afternoon and early evening led to an extremely slick playing surface, though on paper County had just the players to make the most of the conditions.

Boss Dean Holdsworth was unable to call upon midfield lynchpin Nathan Davies, who was left at home suffering from flu, meaning attacking trio Paul Hall, Kevin Cooper and Danny Rose were given license to roam in front of anchorman Adie Harris.

Striker Craig Hughes however, shook off a bout of flu and was fit to resume his prolific partnership with loanee Craig Reid.

Winger Leon Osei, signed on Saturday to replace Bath City bound pace ace Richard Evans, was only included as a substitute for the Exiles.

Weston selected former Exiles loanee Ashan Holgate in their starting XI, though Gurney was perhaps a more recognisable presence at the heart of the Weston rearguard.

It was the home side who fired the first shot in anger, striker Ryan Havard firing inches wide as defender Justyn Roberts stood off his man.

The Exiles’ first attempt saw them within a whisker of leading on nine minutes, Reid's header beating goalkeeper Ryan Northmore, forcing Gurney to clear from under his own crossbar.

The home side responded, Gurney's brilliantly flighted freekick catching County cold, Cedric Abraham missing a guilt-edged chance from just four yards out, firing right across the face of goal. Moments later and Gurney turned home Mark McKeever's teasing freekick, but the linesman ruled offside to keep County level.

The home side were well on top by this stage and when McKeever rounded goalkeeper Glyn Thompson on 25 minutes, Ashley Vickers managed to hack clear off the line.

Still the home side came forward and from Havard's firm volley on the half hour, Thompson was forced to make a finger tip save low to his right. The Exiles' only response coming by way of Hughes' tame and wayward header following a neat run and cross from Rose.

County needed an improvement and gradually it came, culminating in Cooper's blast from the left swerving just past the far post. Another chance soon followed, Hughes' centre just evading Reid on the far post on 41 minutes, before Reid became the game’s second player to have a goal correctly ruled out for offside on the stroke of half time.

County had come into the ascendancy at the end of the first period and continued that form into the second half, Cooper's sublime cross presenting a great chance for Hughes, but he fired tamely and Northmore saved. However, the Exiles continued to pressure and Cooper neatly switched inside for full-back Martyn Giles, who fired across Northmore, only to be denied cruelly by the inside of the post on 50 minutes as Newport began to take a grip on proceedings, without adding to their two close calls at the start of the half, prompting Holdsworth to replace flu victim Hughes with Rob Duffy.

The Exiles were dominant and it looked like a matter of time until they scored, but it was the home side who broke the deadlock on 74 minutes with their only meaningful chance of the half.

The goal was a good one, Holgate wriggling free on the left flank and crossing perfectly for Darren Mullings who turned home from close range after exploiting a gap between Roberts and Vickers.

Suddenly the game was yet another rescue mission for the Exiles and they did respond, Giles and Cooper in particular causing troubles down the left flank, before Holgate amazingly avoided a second caution after kicking the ball away in dissent, the referee seemingly changing his mind after reaching for a card.

Tempers began to fray as County poured forward in search of a deserved leveller, an uneven performance by Bristol official Simon Knapp doing little to dispel County's sense of injustice.

Substitute Osei crossed for Rose as time ticked away, but his header was wide of the mark.

Gurney was sent off deep into stoppage time for dissent, before the Exiles drew level with Rose's stunner.

Weston: Northmore, Abraham, Ludovic, Mullings, Gurney, Comyn-Platt, Wells, Palmer, Havard (Clarke 89), Holgate, McKeever (Paddock 52). Subs not used: Willshire, Brown, Grubb. Booked: Holgate (foul, 43), Gurney (dissent, 87, 90), Rose (foul, 90). Sent off: Gurney (dissent, 90)

County: Thompson, Bignot, Giles, Cooper, Vickers (Osei 85), Roberts, Rose, Harris, Reid, Hughes (Duffy 67), Hall (Leek 77). Subs not used: Osei, Jenkins, James. Booked: Roberts (dangerous play, 14), Harris (foul, 23), Referee: Simon Knapp (Bristol) Attendance: 528 Argus star man: Martyn Giles