Fury, injustice and disbelief. County experienced all three in abundance last night at Hayes as they found a new way of losing a game they really should have won.

It is fair to say that Weston-super-Mare referee Ron Ganfield will probably not receive a Christmas card from County manager Peter Beadle, while Hayes boss Willy Wordsworth would probably like to pack the hapless official into the side's skip and take him everywhere.

Such was the injustice of last night's outcome!

The result of the Nationawide South game hinged largely on the decisions of Mr Ganfield, who County will say managed the rare feat of making three mistakes in one incident.

The pivotal moment came in the 22nd minute when County keeper Tony Pennock raced outside his area to try and beat home forward Michael Bartley to a ball played in behind the Newport defence.

Bartley nicked the ball past Pennock and past a post and the two collided, but Mr Ganfield, instead of awarding the expected goal kick, decided the challenge was a foul, that it was inside the area and worthy of a red card to the confused County keeper!

Now the laws of the game state that a player should be dismissed if he fouls an opponent who is advancing towards goal with a likely scoring opportunity.

Yet Bartley would have had absolutely no chance of scoring if the two had not collided.

So Beadle had to send on youth team keeper Keiron Blackburn and reduce his side to 10 men by withdrawing winger Sam O'Sullivan.

Hayes right-back James Saulsbury duly despatched the spot-kick but four minutes later County were level, thanks to a superb piece of opportunism from Craig Hughes, the quality of whose finish was manna from heaven for Beadle.

County had to withstand some ferocious challenges from Hayes frontrunning brothers Marvin and Michael Bartley both of whom were fortunate to escape with cautions for challenges on Andrew Thomas and Ashley Williams who each needed lengthy treatment before resuming.

And home midfield man Paul Ellis was withdrawn on the stroke of half-time to receive an ear-wigging from Wordsworth despite escaping a booking for some more X-rated fouls.

County defied the odds to take control, and Blackburn distinguished himself by twice diving at Michael Bartley's feet and emerging with the ball.

In the 61st minute Cortez Belle was chopped down by Kevin McKenna with not a home voice raised in anger as Mr Ganfield pointed to the spot and Jason Bowen scored the penalty.

County looked in control but with just eight minutes remaining Ian Hillier felled Kevin Warner and Mr Ganfield awarded his third penalty of the night, gleefully scored by Hayes substitute Josh Scott.

A point was the least County deserved but their sense of injustice overflowed when arch villain Michael Bartley scored a winner on the break two minutes from time.

Hayes: Davies, Saulsbury, Dennison (Scott 72), Williams, Jeffrey, McKenna, Marvin Bartley, Ellis (Goodall 45), Michael Bartley, Knight, Warner. Subs not used: McAuley, Hill, Wells. Scorers: Saulsbury (25 pen), Stock (82 pen), Michael Bartley (89)

Cautions: Marvin Bartley (32), Michael Bartley (42) - both for fouls. County: Pennock, Hillier, Bater, Jenkins, Jones, Thomas, Bowen, Williams, Belle, Hughes (Green 72), O'Sullivan (Blackburn 24). Subs not used: Draycott, Leek, Shorney. Scorers: Hughes (29), Bowen (61 pen) Sent off: Pennock (22).

* Nationwide South results: Basingstoke 0 Weymouth 3, Bognor Regis Town 8 Maidenhead Utd 1, Cambridge City 6 Thurrock 0, Dorchester 1 Havant and W 1, Eastbourne Borough 1 Carshalton Ath 1, Hayes 3 Newport County 2, St Albans 5 Yeading 2, Sutton Utd 1 Lewes 5, Welling 1 Farnborough 0.