NEW season, new team but a familiar feeling of disappointment for Newport County AFC as they conceded an injury-time winner against Mansfield Town.

Warren Feeney’s men had shown great character to fight back from 1-0 down and 2-1 down to level through Jack Compton and Joss Labadie.

But Kevan Hurst’s 93rd-minute winner condemned County to defeat on the opening day of the new season.

Feeney did not spring any surprises in his starting XI with 10 new signings lining up alongside goalkeeper Joe Day.

Jazzi Barnum-Bobb got the nod at right-back ahead of Paul Bignot and Jamie Turley started in preference to Darren Jones.

Turley lined up alongside new County captain Scot Bennett in central defence and, after the departure of Tom Meechan and Kieran Parselle on loan this week, the Exiles boss could name just six substitutes.

Jennison Myrie-Williams started on the left flank with Jack Compton on the right and both wingers performed well in an encouraging opening 45 minutes.

Myrie-Williams won the crowd’s approval early on after showing great pace and determination to track back and dispossess Mitchell Rose as he drove towards Day’s goal.

Mark Randall, showing signs of his Premier League pedigree in midfield, also stood out and he almost created the first goal on 10 minutes.

The former Arsenal man fed Sean Rigg, who tried his luck from distance with a first time effort that clipped the top of Scott Shearer’s bar.

But it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on 12 minutes when Hurst crossed from the left flank and Matt Green was afforded far too much time and space in the box to head past Day with ease.

The former County striker had the ball in the net again shortly afterwards but the offside flag was up as he poked home Malvind Benning’s cross from the right.

After 11 games without a win at the back end of last season it was not the start Feeney wanted.

But they responded well to the early setback and were level within six minutes.

Mitchell Rose flew into a tackle to concede a silly free-kick on the edge of his area and Compton took full advantage.

The Welshman signed from Yeovil Town in the summer curled the ball round the outside of the wall with his left foot and placed it perfectly out of reach of Shearer’s dive to deservedly level the match.

Feeney’s men gave as good as they got for the remainder of the first half to go to the break level.

But they looked oddly flat after the restart, inviting pressure from the visitors.

And they were made to pay on 66 minutes as Mansfield captain Lee Collins found Danny Rose just inside the box.

The striker showed great footwork and quick thinking to turn and arrow a shot into the back of the net in an instant and County were up against it once again.

They had to Day to thank for keeping them in the game with a superb save to keep out Green’s point-blank header on 75 minutes.

And the Exiles again showed great character to level for a second time 12 minutes from the end.

Joss Labadie was the unlikely scorer, in the right place at the right time to tap in virtually on the line at the far post from a free-kick.

But all that hard work counted for nothing as Hurst hit the winner just seconds from the final whistle to extend the Exiles winless run to 12 matches.

County: Day; Butler, Turley, Bennett, Barnum-Bobb; Myrie-Williams (Tozer, 71), Labadie, Randall, Compton; Rigg, Jackson

Subs not used: Bittner, Darren Jones, Bignot, Owen-Evans, Dafydd Jones

Booked: Labadie, Randall

Referee: Robert Jones

Attendance: 2,790 (339 Mansfield)

Argus star man: Mark Randall