IT was Jon Parkin to the rescue for Newport County AFC today as the striker’s double earned the hosts a point against Cheltenham Town at Rodney Parade.

The home side had to come from behind twice to secure a share of the spoils in an entertaining Sky Bet League Two clash.

County’s first objective was to try and avoid conceding within the opening 30 seconds, as they had against Barnet in the abandoned game of a week earlier.

They managed to do that and nearly broke the deadlock themselves when Mark Randall hooked a left-foot shot towards goal which keeper Russell Griffiths palmed away for a corner.

However, County’s propensity to go a goal down early in matches struck again 11 minutes in.

And it was all too easy for Town midfielder Asa Hall, who was afforded time and space just outside the Exiles’ area and planted a shot past Joe Day.

It was a case of the same old, same old for the home fans, who have become used to seeing their side concede first on numerous occasions this season.

But the County players didn’t let their heads drop and they were back level in the 18th minute.

A poor clearance from a County corner sent the ball upwards rather than away from Griffiths’ goal, and when the visitors failed to deal with the danger, Parkin found the target.

It was actually the linesman in front of the Bisley Stand who confirmed the ball had crossed the whitewash after Parkin’s shot struck a defender on the line.

Neither team stamped their authority on proceedings in the next quarter of an hour, before Gary Johnson’s visitors regained the lead.

There appeared to be no danger for County when Mark Randall gathered the ball on the edge of the Cheltenham box, but seconds later and the hosts were facing going 2-1 down.

Randall lost possession, Harry Pell picked up the ball and set off on a run that took him all the way to the County penalty area.

He beat Dan Butler for pace before being bundled over by Paul Bignot. The defender was booked and Danny Wright calmly beat Day from the spot.

But no sooner had Cheltenham gone ahead for a second time than County were level for a second time – and it was Parkin equalising for a second time.

Butler clipped a lovely cross into the big man and Parkin showed a superb deftness of touch to guide a right-footed effort past Griffiths.

The game become a little scrappy after that and the referee had to speak to a couple of players who were getting a bit carried away.

Reece Grego-Cox, who had shown some nice touches on the right-hand side of midfield, could have given County the lead at half-time.

Played in by Jack Compton, the loanee fired straight at Griffiths from point-blank range.

County had finished the first half by creating a great chance and they started the second in the same vein.

And Parkin was so very nearly celebrating his hat-trick.

Joss Labadie cleverly flicked the ball into the striker’s path and he connected superbly with a volley that Griffiths tipped over the bar.

The hosts went even closer to grabbing the lead just before the hour mark after Parkin, who caused the Town defence problems all afternoon, won a free-kick 20 yards out.

Compton did everything right but the fingertips of Griffiths pushed the ball onto the crossbar.

Both keepers were certainly earning their corn, and on 60 minutes it was Day’s turn to produce the goods.

Town substitute Jonny Smith found space down the left, cut the ball back to Pell and he saw his effort parried by Day.

Smith got to the rebound first and must have thought he had scored before Day did brilliantly to get a foot to the former’s drive.

Not long after his double save there was a big heart in the mouth moment for Day as he came for and completely missed a cross, though on the whole his handling couldn’t be faulted.

The two teams made use of their three allotted substitutions, with Marlon Jackson, Rhys Healey and Ben Tozer replacing Compton, Parkin and Randall.

There wasn’t going to be any settling for a point in the closing stages and both sides went for a winner.

However, the quality in the final third was severely lacking and the two teams had to settle for a share of the spoils.

County: Day, Bignot, Butler, Turley, Bennett, Compton (Jackson 64), Labadie, Randall (Tozer 85), Grego-Cox, Parkin (Healey 80), Rigg. Subs: Bittner, Myrie-Williams, Green, Cameron.

Bookings: Bignot

Referee: Carl Boyeson

Attendance: 2,656 (422 away fans)

Argus star man: Jon Parkin