NEWPORT County AFC closed the gap at the bottom with another encouraging draw against promotion contenders Barnet.

Goalkeeper Joe Day was the star man with a series of impressive saves to frustrate the hosts and earn a 0-0 draw at The Hive Stadium.

And, with Notts County and Cheltenham Town both losing, the battling point means the Exiles are now five points from safety ahead of two massive matches against Hartlepool United and Cheltenham.

Having described last week’s 1-1 home draw with play-off hopefuls Colchester United as a turning point, manager Graham Westley named an unchanged starting XI and an unchanged squad of 18.

But midfielder Mark Randall lasted less than half an hour against his former club and he headed for the dressing room after he was replaced by Alex Samuel.

The 21-year-old, on loan from Swansea City, joined Craig Reid and Aaron Williams in a three-pronged attack.

But the visitors didn’t create many chances in the first half.

Midway through Craig Reid’s touch was just too heavy as he latched onto a long throw and attempted to lob Josh Vickers in the Barnet goal.

And David Pipe forced Vickers into his first real save from a corner five minutes before the break.

But most of the action was at the other end and it was a decent defensive display from the Exiles before the break.

Westley’s men looked well drilled and showed good discipline with 11 men behind the ball at times.

Williams in particular was working hard in a defensive capacity to help out left-back Dan Butler.

In the early stages the hosts were restricted to shots from distance and Jack Taylor went closest to testing Day in the ninth minute.

John Akinde, so often County’s nemesis in the past, proved himself a handful again and he was ably assisted by Taylor and Mauro Vilhete.

Darren Jones was the man tasked with stopping Akinde and he enjoyed the battle.

When the League Two top scorer did get away from Jones in the first 45 he shot off target or was denied by Sid Nelson or Mark O’Brien.

Barnet’s best chances of the half came in the final five minutes as O’Brien blocked a Simeon Akinola effort and Nana Kyei shot wide from close range under pressure from Pipe.

The second half didn’t come alive until the hour mark when the hugely impressive Samuel twice went close.

And Day was made to work hard as the game wore on, making three excellent saves in quick succession from Akinola, Vilhete and Weston.

The skilful Vilhete also drove into the side netting from distance and shot wide again shortly afterwards as the home fans’ frustrations grew.

Day then pulled off another stunning stop, tipping over Nana Kyei’s curler at full stretch as it headed for the top corner of his net.

Jones blocked brilliantly from Akinola in stoppage time and County secured another valuable point.

County: Day; Pipe (Demetriou, 83), O’Brien, Jones, Nelson, Butler; Bennett, Randall (Samuel, 28), Sheehan; Williams, Reid (Owen-Evans, 65)

Subs not used: Bittner, Barnum-Bobb Flynn, Bojaj

Booked: O’Brien

Referee: Darren England

Attendance: 2,623 (159 County)

Argus star man: Joe Day