A MISTAKE by goalkeeper Joe Day cost Newport County AFC a vital victory in their game in hand at the bottom of League Two.

Aaron Williams’ first half strike looked to have set the Exiles on the way to a much needed three points in their battle to beat the drop.

But Day was beaten by a Michael Rose free-kick 20 minutes into the second half as bogey side Morecambe once again frustrated the Exiles.

Graham Westley’s side remain bottom of the table and are now six points from safety having played the same number of games as their relegation rivals.

Williams had returned to the attack in place of midfielder Josh Sheehan in the only change from Saturday’s agonising 3-2 defeat at Cambridge United.

And it proved an inspired decision to recall the striker as he poked in after 18 minutes.

It was a scrappy one but a hugely important one as Williams was in the right place to sneak the ball inside the post after Ryan Bird had scuffed his shot wildly off target.

And it was no less than the Exiles deserved after a high-tempo start to the match as they tried to put Saturday’s frustrations to good use.

Rhys Turner went close for the visitors early on but after that it was all County until they broke the deadlock.

Williams poked the ball in but was denied by the offside flag.

Then the hosts were denied what looked a certain penalty for hand ball in the box but referee Graham Salisbury was unmoved by the County players’ and fans’ appeals.

Morecambe goalkeeper Barry Roche saved twice from Craig Reid as the pressure built up and it was no surprise when Williams finally broke the deadlock.

But the visitors certainly responded well and they hammered at the door for the remainder of the first half without any success.

Liam Wakefield, Ryan Edwards and Alex Whitmore all went close as the Shrimps forced a series of corners.

Paul Mullin also hooked a shot just wide from close range as Westley’s men continued to live dangerously.

There was a lot of backs-to-the-wall defending but County held on thanks to a bit of luck and some excellent clearances from Dan Butler.

After blowing a 2-0 lead at Cambridge, a 1-0 advantage was never going to be comfortable and with Darren Jones, Sid Nelson and Scot Bennett all missing attack was the best form of defence for the Exiles.

Alex Samuel caused Morecambe problems in the first half, teeing up Reid for one effort and blasting a shot just off target after the striker had returned the favour, and he continued to be the hosts’ most effective outlet after the break.

The Swansea City winger, on loan at Rodney Parade until the end of the season, linked well with captain Michael Flynn five minutes after the restart and the skipper beat his man before shooting straight at Roche.

And he showed some outrageous skill to beat his marker and force a corner with a whipped cross that Roche had to push behind for a corner.

But there was still plenty of threat from Morecambe, who had won on their previous three visits to Newport.

Day had to be alert to tip over a Luke Conlan cross that turned into a shot and so nearly crept under the bar.

But he was certainly not alert to the danger minutes later as Michael Rose stood over a free-kick.

The County goalkeeper was still lining up his wall when the Morecambe skipper took a leaf out of David Luiz’ book and fired into the unguarded net to level on 64 minutes.

Tom Owen-Evans, who had scored a spectacular goal before this fixture was abandoned back in December, replaced the injured Mark O’Brien as the Exiles’ defensive worries increased.

Day, who was superb at the weekend, went someway to redeeming himself last night as he raced from his line to smother the danger when Turner threatened to steal all three points for the visitors.

Roche then reacted brilliantly to keep out Bird’s effort and both sides had to settle for a point.

But this was a night when County really needed that elusive win.

County: Day; Pipe, O’Brien (Owen-Evans, 71), Demetriou; Samuel, Rose, Flynn, Butler; Reid (Jackson, 90), Williams (Gordon, 79), Bird

Subs not used: Bittner, Bignot, Parselle, Bojaj

Referee: Graham Salisbury

Attendance: 1,988 (44 Morecambe)

Argus star man: Samuel