NEW boys John-Christophe Ayina and Conor Wilkinson rescued a point for Newport County AFC with a dramatic fight back in the final six minutes.

County were 2-0 down after the first six minutes as Newport-born Christian Doidge scored after only 46 seconds and Joe Worrall doubled the visitors’ advantage.

But Frenchman Ayina gave the Exiles hope on 83 minutes and Wilkinson celebrated his birthday with the equalizer two minutes from time.

Warren Feeney had made five changes from Monday’s FA Cup defeat to Blackburn Rovers with Joe Day, Scott Barrow, Conor Dymond, Medy Elito and Aaron Collins dropping out.

Day was serving the first game of a three-match ban following his late red card, while Elito had not recovered from a deep gash picked up in that game and Collins completed his move to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Friday.

New loan signings Wilkinson and Deane Smalley made their debuts up front either side of top scorer Scott Boden in a 4-3-3 formation.

Mitchell Beeney replaced Day in goal, just as he had at York City seven days previously, and midfielders Yan Klukowski and Alex Rodman returned from injury.

All Feeney’s pre-match plans went out of the window in the first minute, however, as a long ball through the middle caught out the County defence.

Newport-born Christian Doidge latched onto it and guided it expertly over Beeney and into the net to give the visitors the ideal start.

The Exiles were still reeling from that blow when they found themselves further behind in the sixth minute.

Defender Joe Worrall rose unmarked in the box to head home his first senior goal and leave County with a mountain to climb.

The hosts belatedly woke up with captain Mark Byrne firing a half volley over the bar from the edge of the area.

Referee Darren Deadman made himself very unpopular with the home fans after he ignored a nudge on Rodman in the box.

The midfielder then saw a fine effort blocked and Andrew Hughes headed just wide from a Byrne free-kick.

As the Exiles stepped up the pressure Wilkinson saw a snap shot well saved by Mark Cousins but was then booked for simulation after going down in the box.

Klukowski fired over the top from distance as County pushed forward.

But they were leaving gaps at the back Doidge blasting one volley over the top from an acute angle and Ashley Chambers stroking a shot just wide of Beeney’s far post in the final minute of the first half.

The dramatic finale leaves County four points above the bottom two ahead of Tuesday's trip to Leyton Orient.

County: Beeney; Holmes, Donacien (Barrow, 72) Hughes, Davies; Rodman, Byrne, Klukowski (Owen-Evans, 68); Wilkinson, Boden, Smalley (Ayina, 58)

Subs not used: Green, Taylor, Ralph, Twumasi

Booked: Wilkinson

Dagenham: Cousins; Passley, Worrall, Hoyte, Dikamona, Hemmings; Boucaud, Ladabie, Muldoon; Chambers, Doidge (Hawkins, 70)

Subs not used: O’Brien, Cureton, Jones, Raymond, Guttridge, Widdowson

Booked: Muldoon

Referee: Darren Deadman

Attendance: 2,323

Argus star man: Wilkinson