HEDNESFORD TOWN 1 Newport County AFC 0

PETER Nicholas has waxed lyrical about his Newport County players' need to communicate better on the pitch - and maybe, just maybe, his message could be finally getting through.

And it was recalled experienced defender Jason Perry who inspired the Exiles' verbal volley on Saturday afternoon at Hednesford Town.

Nevertheless, despite having the mammoth share of the possession and territorial advantage and enough goal-scoring to win any game, County slumped to their second consecutive reverse - and, more worryingly, Newport have only scored twice in their last six league games.

On the other hand, boss Nicholas will argue that two of his front-line strikers Neil Davis and Mark Dickeson have spent most of the season sitting in the treatment room.

And, as Newport did to Hednesford in Nicholas' first game in charge at Spytty Park in November, the hosts snatched a second-half winner they didn't really deserve through lively left-winger David Berks. County now haven't won on any of their four visits to the Staffordshire club.

Nicholas and assistant Glyn Jones will know, though, that results are what matters at a quarter-to-five but the commitment his players showed at the Keys Park mudbath will be enough to encourage them.

Nicholas' biggest criticism of his Newport team is not their lack of effort or footballing ability but their silence when they cross the white line.

"It's good to talk" has been Nicholas' constant message and with 32-year-old ex-Cardiff City captain Perry, County's former assistant manager before falling-out with previous boss Tim Harris, and skipper Matt Rose, returning from a three-match ban, in the thick of the action the Welshmen were far more animated.

The whole team got 'stuck in' on a pitch that a gang of pigs would have had revelled in - but often their final ball was lacking and County lacked an intense physical presence.

But, if comparing County's performance with a European Tour golfer, their approach play down the fairway was quality, with some very attractive passing moves, but their putting wasn't accurate.

Perry, who was only told last month by Nicholas that he's surplus to requirements, was arguably County's man-of-the-match and saved his team early on when his last-ditch tackle thwarted Mark Jones as he scampered through.

Apart from that, Hednesford only had two real efforts on goal. The whole crowd were on their feet when Mark Jones headed Berks' left-wing cross goal-wards in the 35th minute but Exiles stopper Pat Mountain dug it out diving to his left.

The Pitmen's second was the game's only goal - Berks ramming home a move he started. County, however, had more than enough chances to be travelling back to South Wales with all three points.

Makeshift attacker Jeff Eckhardt headed wide twice while little livewire Garry Shephard had a close-range shot saved by Hednesford keeper Michael Bingham's legs.

Rose, too, brought the best from Bingham with a close-range header

Sub Richard French and centre-back Andrew Thomas, playing his 100th County game both should have scored.

French headed Steve Benton's left-wing cross millimetres wide of the post before Thomas fired Perry's knock-down, from Kristian Dimond's corner, over from six yards out.

Hednesford now leap-frog the Newport Stadium outfit into ninth as the Welsh club slip to 11th - and are only seven points away from the dreaded drop-zone.

With promotion well out of reach and Newport safe from relegation, barring a dramatic nose-dive, Nicholas knows the remainder of this season is all about trying to build a team and laying his long-term foundations.

Hednesford Town (4-4-2): M Bingham; A Williams, C Brindley, S Ryder, A Tankard; S Wray (D Charie, 78) , E Nwadike, D Rae (A Maguire, 62), D Berks; M Jones (K Francis, 84), S Piearce Subs not used: A Jenkins, G Lancashire Booked : D Rae 25 (dissent), S Wray 58 (foul)

Newport County AFC (4-5-1): P Mountain; C Collins, J Perry, A Thomas, S Benton (R Plant, 75) ; R Ashington (R French, 57), N Davies, M Rose (c), K Dimond, G Shephard; J Eckhardt (N Davis, 67) Subs not used: A Stevenson, M Fowler Booked: A Thomas 31 (foul)

Referee: Mr S Whitehurst (Stone-on-Trent) Attendance: 454

Meanwhile, none of Gwent's Welsh League teams played on Saturday due to water-logged pitches.