NEWPORT County AFC may well have left themselves too much to do to force their way back into the play-off picture but this was a performance to boost belief for the remainder of this campaign and for next season.
County were without inspirational captain Joss Labadie and in-form striker Paul Hayes but they matched promotion favourites Luton Town in all departments at Rodney Parade.
It was a team display that would earn three points against most sides in League Two.
And there were superb individual performances all over the pitch for the Exiles, from goalkeeper Joe Day and player of the year Ben White at the back to Josh Sheehan in midfield and Aaron Collins up front.
Collins was a surprise choice to replace the injured Hayes but he was determined to show what he can do after a frustrating period since his return to the club on loan and he ripped into the Hatters defence from the start.
It was his mazy run and shot that led to Sheehan netting from the rebound in the second minute and the 20-year-old also crossed for Robbie Willmott to head onto the post in an electric first-half performance.
Luton levelled through Dan Potts, who was allowed a free header from a corner on 23 minutes, and then hit the bar through James Collins.
And Day saved superbly to deny Collins and Danny Hylton as the visitors showed their quality before the break.
The second half was a quieter affair with substitutes Frank Nouble and Harry Cornick going closest to finding a winner for their respective sides in the closing stages but a point apiece was probably a fair result.
Manager Michael Flynn felt his side did enough to win, however, and on another day they may well have claimed the three points that would have kept them in touch with the top seven.
“I thought we were the better team, especially in the second half,” said the Exiles boss, whose side are now seven points below the play-off places with nine games to play.
“We were by far the better team and we should have won the football match.
“It was a very good start. I’m disappointed with the goal we conceded because the boy had a free header but apart from [James] Collins hitting the bar there wasn’t much more that they created.
“They’re the top boys in the league, they’ve got the biggest budget in the league and my boys have just been outstanding.
I’m really pleased,” he added. “I thought we played some brilliant football.
“We’ve played against a good Luton team and we were the better team so I think we’ve done ourselves proud.”
Flynn was critical of Collins’ performance in a behind-closed doors friendly in January but he was full of praise for the 20-year-old after his first start for his hometown club since January 2016.
“He made a good impact,” said the boss. “I’ve spoken to him and told him that his levels weren’t good enough. I didn’t know what Aaron I was going to get.
“But I had a good chat with him and tried to get his confidence back up and he showed what a talent he is.
“I was very pleased and credit to him for working hard and showing that he does want to get into the team.”
Luton boss Nathan Jones was also frustrated not to claim the win.
The Welshman told Luton Today: “It’s not a bad point, but after you shoot yourself in the foot after two minutes, you’re chasing the game again.
“I thought we were excellent first half, I really do, apart from the first five minutes.
“We hit the bar, we had a number of chances, and we played some really good stuff in some really difficult conditions.
"It was blowing a gale, the pitch was dry and bobbly, so it’s not conducive really for anything free-flowing, but I thought we were brave when we got it down.
“That would have been a great win coming away 1-0 because it’s a difficult place to come, especially in the conditions, but 1-1 is probably a fair result in the end as ironically we had the wind second half but I don't think we tested the keeper once."
County: Day; White, O’Brien, Demetriou, Butler; Tozer, Dolan; Willmott, Sheehan (Nouble, 70), Collins; Amond (McCoulsky, 85)
Subs not used: Bittner, Pipe, Reid, Bennett, Jackson
Booked: Dolan, O’Brien
Referee: Craig Hicks
Attendance: 3,512
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