WHAT a shame that after arguably the highest-quality clash at Spytty Park all season it was once again a referee that would have dominated the thoughts of the departing spectators.

The Newport Stadium faithful are used to questionable decisions from the man in black and this reporter is well versed in analysing a contest without overdoing the referee bashing.

This report should be about a classy, high-tempo Blue Square South encounter between two sides who are almost certain to hit the playoffs at least come May.

A tribute to striker Craig Hughes, the reformed character who has won the hearts and minds of the Newport County supporters who roared him to his 50th Exiles goal on Saturday.

However, this game, sadly, was ALL about the referee, he saw to that.

It wasn't just the absolutely diabolical penalty decision that gave the visitors parity when County were threatening to run riot.

Every player makes a mistake during the course of an afternoon and the referee is only human after all.

More so, it was the manner in which this game unfolded after the penalty, a contest littered with so many inconsistencies and frustrations that Bobby Gould and Steve McLaren could've been in charge!

This was, without question, the worst performance I have ever seen from an official.

The best referees are the ones you barely notice, who allow a game to flow in the manner the paying spectator hopes for.

This may only be the sixth tier of English football, but the nearly 900- strong crowd at Spytty Park had paid their money just like a Football League fan, they did not stump up the cash to watch 20-year- old Antony Coggins.

Coggins is the youngest official at this level of the sport and has refereed more than 600 games since starting as an 11-year old.

He will no doubt go on and progress up the pyramid faster than any Blue Square North or South side will manage.

However, his development is not the concern of Newport County or Hampton and Richmond supporters, and on Saturday they were let down because Coggins was miles out of his depth.

His was a performance all about posturing and interrupting, he got the big decisions wrong and he got the smaller decisions wrong.

Whoever came up with the idea to award the biggest game of the day in the Blue Square South - in terms of attendance and league standings - to a man only weeks out of his teens really needs to learn from such a gross error in judgement. A firm and experienced hand was needed, Coggins provided neither.

And this could've been a terrific match.

County played with fantastic gusto, working incredibly hard and playing with commendable width and an incessant desire to get forward and attack down the flanks.

The visitors in turn were robust and resolute, more direct in their approach but skilled and slick on the counter-attack.

County started superbly and richly deserved their fourth-minute opener, even if it was slightly on the fortuitous side.

Jason Bowen engineered space as he cut in from the right, squaring to Charlie Griffin, who settled and lashed the ball from 25 yards, from where it took a sizeable deflection past the wrong-footed goalkeeper Matt Lovett.

Bowen had another effort saved as Peter Beadle's confident side went for the jugular, before Coggins' most important mistake of the day.

Striker Ian Hodges found space in the box following a hopeful pass, skipper Steve Jenkins snuffing out the danger with a well-timed and routine tackle.

The direction in which the ball left the field made it clear Jenkins had got the ball, as did the reaction of the Hampton players when Coggins amazingly pointed at the spot.

They were all up in arms, they thought he'd given a goal kick!

Elliot Godfrey slotted home after Manchester United-style protesting from County, despite Glyn Thompson guessing right and getting two hands on the ball - he could only push it into the roof of the net.

County responded in exactly the right way to their perceived injustice (not applicable unfortunately in the final third of the game).

On 25 minutes they were back in front, Lee Fowler's superb pass freeing Bowen, who crossed sublimely for Hughes to head home goal number 50 in County start number 100.

Richard Evans nearly extended the advantage just after the interval, but his cross/shot whistled just past the post and out of reach of Griffin, who sniffed a second. Hughes also came close moments later.

However, County were beginning to get weighed down by the referee, they had started to let their feeling of injustice affect their rhythm.

Each blow of the whistle - and there were more than I could note down - seemed to further infuriate the home side.

The more the crowd groaned and shouted their disapproval, the less focused the home side seemed to become and the visitors capitalised.

Thompson had already made a couple of decent stops when County failed to deal with a well- executed corner with just over ten minutes left, Orlando Jeffrey reacting fastest to stab home from 12 yards.

Beadle went for broke and introduced both Jermaine Clarke and Julian Alsop, hoping to create one final opportunity.

It came deep into injury time after Damon Searle's magnificent charge forward freed Evans, who crossed perfectly, but Griffin fluffed a golden chance, heading straight at Lovett.

The Exiles will be disappointed with only a point, and though they go seven unbeaten in the league, most of us just left frustrated at such a high-calibre contest being spoiled by the referee.

County: Thompson, Jenkins (Alsop 87), Searle, Davies, Dodds, Hillier, Bowen (Clarke 77), Fowler, Griffin, Hughes, Evans Subs not used: Jarman, A Evans, Pennock Booked: Jenkins (foul, 45), Fowler (foul, 68).

Hampton and Richmond: Lovett, Harper (R Lake 35), S Lake, Jeffrey, Fernandes, Wells, Inns, Godfrey, Hodges (Frost 90), McAuley (Yaku 68), McIntosh.

Subs not used: Quarm, Harris.

Attendance: 890.

Referee: Antony Coggins (Bicester).