WE really do have to make allowances for Newport County AFC after a decent away point at Accrington, because this was a game where their best qualities shone through in truly appalling conditions.

Make no mistake, while boss John Sheridan was right to fight to see the game continue beyond the half time interval, when John Coleman was pushing for a postponement, the contest simply never should have started.

The fact that it did, was baffling. The fact that nothing was mooted about a potential postponement, when it became abundantly clear from minute one that the ball wouldn’t run properly, virtually anywhere on the pitch.

The pre-match talk that only one corner of the ground was a concern – and remained covered until kick-off – proved a nonsense, because the opposite end of the ground was worse.

I’ve genuinely never seen a footballer deal with a tougher set of on field circumstances than Scott Barrow. The system the Exiles play means neither wide player is offered cover defensively, while offensively Barrow was on a hiding to nothing, running up the most sodden side of the ground. A simple foray forward made Barrow look like an Aintree hopeful at the Grand National, hurdling puddles like fences any time he was gaining momentum.

There were more slips and slides in the first half than in an entire series of It’s a Knockout with conditions more suited to one of It’s a Knockout’s illegitimate children, Splash, than it was to a game of football.

However, considering the farcical conditions the players dealt with throughout, calling the game off at half time would have been a nonsense. Yes the rain got worse, not helped by the fact the Crown Ground floodlights were seemingly designed for a Subbuteo field, not a real football ground, but they weren’t playable to begin with, so it seemed right to trudge on.

And yet, out of the darkness and the rain, the gloom and the gales, came light for Newport County, who were excellent in the second period, showing aptitude for a fight in even the harshest of conditions.

They moved the ball as well as could be expected, with Alex Rodman adding a flourish to the speed in which County could look to catch the hosts on the break, with two fine counter attacking goals a testament to how well they improved.

Let us not forget, this is hardly the Accrington Stanley Newport have been used to facing, a scenario that works both ways.

Twice the Exiles have travelled to the Crown Ground in previous seasons, as outside bets for League Two promotion, coming up against a side hotly tipped for relegation.

And twice County earned a good result, a 3-3 in 2012/13 draw and a 2-0 win last season, though this season’s point was far more hard earned with the scenario changed completely.

The Exiles are very much in a relegation scrap this term and Stanley are battling for promotion, with young midfielder Josh Windass, son of former Hull striker Dean, seemingly set to play at a far higher level, very, very quickly.

Even on a dismal playing surface his quality shone through and as good as County were in the second half, it’s worth remembering that they were fortunate to still be level at the interval.

They lost Janoi Donacien to an ankle ligament injury after just 21 minutes, the player stretchered off and on crutches as he boarded the team coach, now set for a scan and County, presumably, for consultation with his parent club Aston Villa.

County held firm until the interval despite mounting pressure, the hosts so close to opening the scoring just before the break when a thunderbolt from Piero Mingoia struck the angle between crossbar and post and bounced clear following the move of the match which saw Windass heavily involved. The hosts also tested Joe Day four times in the opening 15 minutes. Perhaps understandably with conditions underfoot ridiculous, but County were under the cosh for most of the first period.

Parity was more than Newport deserved and they were again grateful to Day seconds after the restart, who saved from Matt Crooks.

County improved, retaining the ball better and might have scored through Lenell John-Lewis, before they did take the lead, Yan Klukowski finishing beautifully after Jazzi Barnum-Bobb’s cross.

The Exiles have rarely led this term, and holding a lead has been even rarer, so it was no surprise that the hosts equalised four minutes later, Scott Partridge clearing off the line, only for Billy Kee to smash home the rebound.

If anything, the goal conceded sparked Newport, who suddenly started breaking on the counter with real menace, allowing them to restore their lead on 65 minutes.

It was another terrific effort, this time started by Klukowski whose pinpoint cross was swept home by fellow sub Scott Boden, with a flourish, first time, could they hold on this time?

It certainly seemed possible as the hosts didn’t muster a shot until the 76th minute, Seamus Conneely blasting the upright with Day beaten, the ball falling cruelly straight into the path of Mark Crooks who simply couldn’t miss the rebound.

To County’s credit they never looked likely to surrender the point they’d have surely taken before the match or at half time, but their spirited second half display will hopefully have left the players feeling confident they are now a match for anyone in League Two.

Accrington: Mooney, Pearson, Mingoia, Windass, McConville, Crooks, Winnard (Barry 58), Davies, Conneely, Kee, Halliday

Subs not used: Etheridge, Proctor, Barry, Gornell, Carver, Quansah, Wakefield

Booked: Davies, Conneely

Newport: Day, Barnum-Bobb, Barrow, Donacien (Klukowski 21), Bennett, Partridge, Rodman, Byrne, Elito, Ansah (Boden 60), John-Lewis

Subs not used: Taylor, Holmes, Green, Hughes, Collins

Booked: Barnum-Bobb, Rodman

Referee: Chris Sargison

Attendance: 1552 (away, 106)