Newport travelled to New Milton on Saturday and returned with a respectable draw after a second half fightback.
Newport started with three loan players from Gosport Borough, Ryan Hughes, Jake Wright and Paul Agbeseyi. Gary Streeter returned from injury in goal and others returning included Joe Craig and Aaron Burford.
Newport started on the front foot and took an early lead on 4 minutes through Joe Craig and were unlucky not to increase that score during the first quarter of an hour. It was to be New Milton who found the net on 15 minutes through Chris Long.
The Linnets then took control of the rest of the half after the Port fell foul of some referring decisions and disciplinary issues. Tyrell Sampson putting the home side up on 27 minutes and Newport player Liam Triggs sent to the sin bin for dissent.
Shortly before half time, Scott Barron needed lengthy treatment for concussion after a bang of heads and then New Milton were awarded a hotly disputed penalty in the added time. Tyrell Sampson stepped up to score his second and put New Milton 3-1 up at the break.
HT: New Milton 3 Newport 1
Newport came out for the second half shaken but not stirred and it was that man again Joe Craig getting on the end of a Connor Kelly cross to pull a goal back.
The Newport joy wasn’t to last for long as New Milton were awarded a second penalty on 55 minutes and Port keeper Gary Streeter was sin binned. Tyrell Sampson stepped up to score and restore the Linnets two goal lead . Aaron Burford had taken over in goal for the sidelined Gary Streeter. It wasnt long before Burford was called upon to make a great save and keep Newport in the game. Newport appeared to be inspired and debutant Paul Agbeseyi smashed home an unstoppable third for Newport’s third goal.
Streeter returned with 20 minutes left on the clock as Newport pressed for an equaliser. New Milton looked to have been home and hosed against a Newport side that had made things difficult for themselves and as the game moved towards injury time it looked as though the hosts would see time out. Newport were not dead yet and stand in captain Jordan Browne would not accept defeat and slotted home the equaliser as the game moved into injury time.
FT: New Milton 4 Newport 4
Newport : Streeter, Hughes, Lamb, Agbeseyi, Barron, Triggs, Kelly, Wright, Browne, Craig, Butcher. Subs: Burford, McCormack, McArthur, Reynolds, Younie.