Life with Dean Holdsworth’s Newport County is anything but dull. After eight and nine goal extravaganzas recently, Saturday’s score returned to more conventional proportions, but if goals did not abound at Woodside Park, goalkeepers certainly did.

With Glyn Thompson needing more time to recover from his groin injury, Dean Holdsworth used Redbridge’s free day to good effect by drafting in the London side’s regular keeper Tony Tucker for one match.

The move paid off handsomely with the 27-year-old, who kept 24 clean sheets last season, giving an immaculate display which included some vital first half saves when the home side caused County problems with some slick forward play.

If County had one hero in green, Bishop’s Stortford had a collection of keepers they called on, one of whom picked up an injury, another a red card, while the third was their most dangerous forward in the first half and put a new meaning on the concept of versatility.

Stortford’s regular keeper Nicky Eyre came to his side’s rescue after eight minutes when a superb diagonal pass from Danny Rose set up Rob Duffy who, with only the keeper blocking his path to goal, hurried his effort and Eyre blocked the shot.

Duffy was winning his fair share of aerial possession and he flicked on a chance for Paul Hall in the 22nd minute but the Jamaican international, given a front running role while Craig Hughes recovers from a back injury, lofted the ball onto the roof of the net.

The lively Peter Dean, who surprisingly is yet to open his scoring account in eight league games, had three minutes earlier come close to giving Stortford the lead only to clip the post and on 24 minutes Tucker showed great judgement to advance from goal and deny the home dangerman.

Tucker was growing in authority in the Newport goal and he made more saves from both Dean and his strike partner Roy Essandoh before Stortford made the breakthrough five minutes before half-time, and it was a goal gifted to them.

Hall was in possession on the halfway line but a careless pass allowed Dee Okijie to intercept and the Blues winger raced on and smashed his shot against the angle of post and crossbar only for Essandoh to head the rebound past the stranded Tucker who deserved better from his temporary team mates.

Stortford started the second half with young keeper Charlie Hasler replacing the experienced Eyre and after a routine save from Nathan Davies the substitute was in the spotlight.

Duffy’s header sent Hall clear and as he tried to round Hasler, contact was made and referee Ian Rathbone awarded the penalty as the County forward tumbled over.

The official had a long consultation with his assistant before applying the letter of the law and sending off the crestfallen Hasler though Hall’s heavy first touch had possibly taken the ball out of reach.

Duffy lined up the 58th minute spot-kick and County were relieved to see Dean take the keeper’s jersey and collect the ball from the net after the penalty was converted in style.

County laid siege to the visitors’ goal and Phil Walsh, who had replaced Davies, lofted the ball over the diminutive Dean only to be denied by a goal line clearance from Tom Champion.

Rose had the ball in the home net in the 87th minute but Rathbone ruled out the effort for handball before, deep into stoppage time, Walsh was free only a few yards from goal only to volley a long throw from fellow substitute Kris Leek over the bar to ensure that honours and points were shared, an outcome nobody could quibble with.

Holdsworth’s views probably echoed those of most County fans at the game.

“I would have taken that result before the game, but considering they had ten men I am disappointed we didn’t come away with the win.

“Tony Tucker was outstanding today. I knew Redbridge didn’t have a fixture so I spoke to their chairman who agreed to let me borrow him for the day, and he did what he does best by stopping goals.

“I thought we played some good stuff early on and was disappointed we were a goal down at half-time.

“But there was a lot of quality about Bishop’s Stortford’s attacking play and we have got something from the game which is good.

"Phil Walsh could have become a dream substitute and Kris Leek gave us a different dimension with his long throws but it wasn’t to be."

Bishop’s Stortford: Eyre (Hasler HT), Koko, Hopkins, Mason, Goodacre, Champion, Okijie (Howell 74), Edwards, Essandoh (Wixon 67), Harris, Dean. Sub not used: Jones.

Scorer: Essandoh (40). Sent off: Hasler (56). Booked: Champion (76) County: Tucker, Jenkins (Giles 64), Collins, Davies (Walsh 70), Vickers, Stephens, Rose, Church, Duffy, Hall, Cooper (Leek 81).

Subs not used: Harris, Thompson.

Attendance: 414 Referee: Ian Rathbone.

Argus Star man: Anthony Tucker