NEWPORT County AFC saw their seven-match unbeaten run ended in cruel fashion and returned to the bottom of League Two on a frustrating night at Rodney Parade.

County never looked in danger of losing before goalkeeper Joe Day let a Sido Jombati free-kick sneak inside the post two minutes from time, allowing Wycombe Wanderers to snatch a barely deserved three points.

Mark Jones and his team of ground staff worked wonders to get the game on after torrential rain had left the pitch covered in water on Monday.

And the County players worked just as hard to find a way past a stubborn Wycombe side, showing plenty of positive intent and endeavour.

They made the better chances but for once there was no end product from the Exiles, who will also argue that one or two key refereeing decisions went against them.

Mark Randall was fit to play after a month on the sidelines but Graham Westley kept faith with the side that dismantled Notts County so impressively on Saturday.

As befits a team hunting a fifth straight win, County looked full of confidence from the off.

None more so that Josh Sheehan with five goals to his name from his previous six matches.

The midfielder took just 95 seconds to get his first shot away but it didn’t have enough pace on it to trouble Jamal Blackman in the Wycombe goal.

And Darren Jones, who was again imperious at the back until conceding the fatal free-kick at the death, got forward to volley over from 25 yards out soon afterwards.

County kept pouring forward with Josh O’Hanlon scooping one effort high over the bar and Sheehan heading wide at the near post.

Sean Rigg fired just off target and Sheehan picked out fellow loan star Rhys Healey but the striker took too long to get his shot away and it was blocked by Sido Jombati.

Healey then came closer than anyone to breaking the deadlock in the first half with a jinking run into the box and a shot that just clipped the outside of Blackman’s right-hand post on 36 minutes.

At the other end Matt Bloomfield and Paris Cowan Hall linked up well and Joe Jacobson went close before Joe Day and Jazzi Barnum-Bobb survived a hairy moment when both attempted to clear a throughball.

Wycombe midfielder Marcus Bean was lucky to escape with just one yellow card in the closing stages of the first half.

And there was a change in the Exiles’ midfield for the second period with Tom Owen-Evans replacing Jack Jebb after the break.

The hosts again started on the front foot.

Rigg found Sheehan with a well worked short corner giving and the Swans youngster had plenty of time and space but scuffed his shot.

Rigg then forced Blackman into a fine save down low to his right to keep out a skidding effort from distance.

And Healey turned his marker inside and out before skewing his shot wide from inside the area.

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth introduced Adebayo Akinfenwa and in response Westley threw on Jennison Myrie-Williams for O’Hanlon.

The Beast has given County nightmares in the past but he was well marshalled by Jones and Scot Bennett.

And it was at the other end where a winner looked most likely to materialise.

Referee John Busby ignored a big shout for a penalty when substitute Myrie-Williams went down in the box under a clumsy challenge from Aaron Pierre and Rigg had two shots blocked in the ensuing melee.

The home fans went mad and Sheehan was booked for remonstrating with the referee.

Healey had one more attempt, racing past his marker and into the area but his shot was easily held.

And that looked to be that before the late drama that means the Exiles will have to start another unbeaten run at Blackpool on Saturday.

County: Day, Barnum-Bobb, Jones, Bennett, Butler (Randall, 90), Tozer, Jebb (Owen-Evans, 46), Rigg, Sheehan, O’Hanlon (Myrie-Williams, 60), Healey

Subs not used: Bittner, Compton, Wood, Touray

Booked: Owen-Evans, Sheehan, Bennett, Jebb

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 2,010 (127 Wycombe)

Argus star man: Darren Jones