NEWPORT County manager Dean Holds-worth claimed that Monday night’s last-gasp draw at Weston-super-Mare felt like a victory.

The Exiles looked to be slipping to their seventh league defeat in a turbulent season but Danny Rose’s brilliant free-kick deep into injury time rescued a deserved point.

After suffering a 3-2 defeat at Braintree on Saturday a draw was the minimum requirement for County but Holdsworth admitted that the overwhelming feeling was one of relief when the ball hit the back of the net.

“There was a massive sense of relief but we deserved it,” he said.

“We haven’t really been getting the points we deserve because we have played some fantastic stuff in these two games, some of the best football any club has played in this division.

“It frustrates me because, but for two or three minor factors, we could have been coming home with six points rather than one,” added Holdsworth.

“As a manager you’ve just got to keep believing that you’re doing the right things and hopefully the results will follow.

“We were still delighted on the bus back though, a goal so late feels like a winner and I was chuffed to bits for the lads.

“It was especially pleasing that the goal came from a free-kick after we spent so much time in training on our set pieces.”

County return to Spytty Park on Saturday when Welling United are the visitors and there will be another new face for the home crowd to welcome in the shape of Leon Osei, signed on a one-month deal after his release from Blue Square South rivals Dorchester.

The winger was given five minutes from the bench on Monday but will be in contention for a starting place against Welling after impressing his new boss so far.

“Leon came on and showed a few nice touches and I’m pleased that he’s settled so well,” said Holdsworth.

“I signed him because he did well against us and he’s here for a month so it’s a chance to have a look at him and for him to look at us.”

But the revolving door remains in place at Spytty and as Osei arrived he was passed on the way out by Rui Branguina with Holdsworth confirming that the Portuguese trialist has left the club.

“Rui is a good footballer and showed me good commitment but with our budget we couldn’t agree to the package he wanted,” he said.