NEWPORT County threw away a 2-0 lead at bottom of the table Hartlepool and lost their place in the play-off positions as a result.

County were cruising thanks to goals from Chris Zebroski and Aaron O'Connor before skipper Andy Sandell picked up two quick yellow cards and Hartlepool hit back against the ten men with two goals in the last ten minutes to secure a point.

Though the result extends County's unbeaten run to five matches, it also sees them slip a place in the League Two table to eighth.