A HEADER from Padraig Amond earned Newport County AFC a point as they finished the season with a 1-1 draw at Carlisle United.

Amond cancelled out Mark Ellis’ opener for the hosts to ensure that County ended the campaign in 11th place on 64 points, just one short of their record tally since returning to League Two in 2013.

Manager Michael Flynn made two changes after the 1-0 defeat at Chesterfield in midweek with Mark O’Brien and Ben Tozer returning in place of Ben White and Aaron Collins.

Loan star White made the long trip to Cumbria but was denied a farewell performance after failing to recover from a minor knock picked up on Tuesday.

And the Brighton & Hove Albion defender was missed as Carlisle began the match on the front foot with Jamal Campbell-Ryce, Jamie Devitt, Richie Bennett, Ashley Nadesan and Gary Liddle causing plenty of problems for the Exiles defence.

Dan Butler marked his 100th appearance for the club by wearing the captain’s armband and he very nearly put through his own net as his clearance flashed just over Joe Day’s bar on 13 minutes.

And that turned out to be only a temporary reprieve for Flynn’s men as the hosts broke the deadlock from the corner.

Ellis climbed above everyone in the box to meet Danny Grainger’s corner and head powerfully past Day to give his side a deserved lead.

Carlisle looked determined to give Keith Curle a good send-off in his final match in charge and they went close to extending their lead through Liddle, Bennett and Campbell-Ryce.

But County responded well to the early setback and forced six corners in the first half alone.

Amond saw a header deflected behind and O’Brien flicked another a foot beyond the far post before Frank Nouble’s long-range effort was diverted wide.

The equaliser came seven minutes before the break as Robbie Willmott beat his man on the right touchline and picked out Amond with a delightful cross.

The Irishman headed home expertly from six yards out to claim his 15th goal of a highly encouraging first season with the Exiles.

South Wales Argus:

The 270 travelling fans, many dressed as David Pipe, were enjoying themselves in the sun and they celebrated wildly in the far corner of the ground but Carlisle continued to threaten.

Devitt curled a free-kick inches over the bar before the break and then struck the upright with another set-piece just after the restart.

And, moments after O’Brien was forced off with an injury, Clint Hill headed against the underside of the bar with Day beaten.

Collins replaced O’Brien, with Tozer dropping back into the centre of defence to partner Mickey Demetriou and Willmott into the middle of the park alongside Matty Dolan.

Nouble, Collins and the improving Tyler Reid attempted to make inroads down the flanks and Amond continued to run himself ragged to no avail.

Academy graduate Momodou Touray made his Football League debut as he was given 11 minutes to show what he can do but neither side could find a winner.

County: Day; Reid, O’Brien (Collins, 58), Demetriou, Butler; Dolan, Tozer; Willmott, Sheehan (Touray 79), Nouble; Amond (Pipe, 90) 

Subs not used: Bittner, Jackson

Booked: Willmott

Referee: Mark Heywood

Attendance: 5,311 (270 County)

Argus star man: Willmott