WITH the eyes of the sporting world on Newport for the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, an under-par Newport County quietly slipped to defeat in Grimsby on Saturday.

And, fittingly, an Eagle from the opposition and a double bogey from newcomers Martin John and Glyn Garner were instrumental in ending the Exiles’ 11-game unbeaten run.

Manager Dean Holdsworth pointed the finger of blame at referee Darren Bond, with some justification, and a lack of cutting edge up front, with rather more.

But just as important was the excellent approach play of Mariners midfielders Rob Eagle and Peter Bore, and the clinical finishing of former Bournemouth striker Alan Connell, who got both goals either side of the break.

And, even more so, individual errors from County left-back John and goalkeeper Garner that led directly to Connell’s strikes in the 30th and 50th minutes.

John, on loan from Cardiff City, has generally looked very solid since he made the short journey from Ninian Park to Spytty Park last month, but in the past week he seems to have hit a rough patch.

Garner came in for the injured Thompson in one of two changes to the starting XI from the win over Forest Green Rovers last Tuesday.

The other saw Chris Todd returning from injury in central defence and replacing Robbie Matthews, while teenage goalkeeper Jamie Proctor earned a place on the bench.

Garner had come on for groin strain victim Thompson against Rovers, but this was his first competitive start for the club he has supported since he was a boy.

And, as full debuts go, it was one to forget.

He’s obviously a talented ’keeper, his 2006 Welsh cap against Trinidad & Tobago and a 10-year Football League career with Bury, Leyton Orient and Shrewsbury are testament to that, but Garner failed to dominate his area at Blundell Park and looked nervy and unconvincing throughout.

Holdsworth’s men lined up in a 4-4-1-1 formation, with Jamie Collins and Eddie Odhiambo flanked by Charlie Henry on the right and Danny Rose on the left of midfield, and Sam Foley supporting Craig Reid up front.

With five successive victories under their belts and Holdsworth newly crowned as Blue Square Bet Premier League manager of the month, they started the match full of confidence.

And it showed as they dominated the opening exchanges with Henry and Foley both wasting early chances to open the scoring.

The duo were linking up superbly with top-scorer Reid, but a little more composure could have made all the difference – particularly as Grimsby have yet to win this season after going behind.

County also had the first of four strong penalty appeals turned down on 14 minutes with Foley, Henry, Collins and Odhiambo surrounding the referee, convinced that there had been a handball in the box.

But Bond waved away their protestations, just as he would all afternoon, and another opportunity had gone begging.

The opening goal came after half an hour as John committed himself to a tackle that Grimsby’s right midfielder Bore neatly avoided, and he then easily outpaced the left-back as he raced towards Garner’s goal.

A simple square ball laid the chance on a plate for Connell, who side-footed into the corner of the net with the minimum of fuss.

And Holdsworth’s half-time team talk counted for nothing as Connell added his second just five minutes after the break.

Garner tried to claim Eagle’s inswinging corner from the right but missed, and after a goalmouth scramble Connell doubled his side’s advantage from a yard out.

Plan B saw Matthews and Darryl Knight thrown on for Foley and Henry almost immediately, and Matthews won plenty of balls in the air, but it wasn’t County’s day.

Reid twice and, most notably, Rose in injury time had further penalty shouts ignored, Knights snatched at a good opportunity and Matthews had a header cleared off the line.

But Connell and Eagle also missed chances to kill the game off for the home side before substitute Lee Peacock was denied well by Garner, and in the end Neil Woods’ side did just enough to deserve the three points.

It made for a miserable 240-mile journey home for the small number of travelling County fans.

But with just two defeats in 13 matches and with their side sixth in the table after more than a quarter of the season gone they should be very happy with life back in the Conference.

Grimsby: O’Donnell, Bore (Samuels, 90), Ridley, Kempson, Garner, Cummins (Hudson, 83), Connell, Carlton (Peacock, 65), Wood, Wright, Eagle.

Subs not used: Atkinson, Croudson.

Booked: Wright, Wood.

County: Garner, Bignot, Collins (Clough, 83), Warren, Todd, Rose, Reid, Foley (Matthews, 51), Henry (Knights, 51), Odhiambo, John.

Subs not used: Proctor, Morgan.

Booked: Todd, Collins.

Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire.) Attendance: 3,246.

Argus star man: Rob Eagle (Grimsby).