IF points were awarded in football for chances created then Newport would have won last night's game with Salisbury at a canter. Instead they drew 0-0.

For 45 minutes County ripped into their visitors and created a string of chances as they found their attacking appetite to continue on from Saturday's impressive second-half performance against King's Lynn.

With a first half corner count of 9-0 to Newport, six in the first 25 minutes, and more than half a dozen clear chances to score, Salisbury must have felt lucky to have reached half-time all square.

But for all their attacking endeavour, Newport could not break the deadlock, although they have now won their first point of the season.

With the fans starting to get impatient, County will want to start making their domination show on the scoreboard quickly.

Having started Saturday's game lethargic and lackadaisical, Newport began last night's game like men possessed. They were sharper and hungrier than at the start of Saturday's game in Norfolk.

Manager Tim Harris kept the same successful 3-4-1-2 formation that finished on Saturday, using Steve Cowe as the link to the strikers as County dominated the midfield for 45 minutes.

In goal for the visitors, Justin Shuttlewood was kept particularly busy in the opening 15 minutes as two glorious chances fell to new County signing Cowe.

The former Swindon Town and Aston Villa forward had a shot saved early on and later rounded Shuttlewood, but saw his shot blocked by a retreating defender.

Top scorer Garry Shephard (pictured) has picked up this season where he left off the last and constantly worried the defence with his tireless work in front of goal.

But while it was all County for the first 45 minutes, it was a different story after the break. After 50 minutes Salisbury's Paul Sales missed an open goal after Newport goalkeeper Pat Mountain's attempt to parry the ball fell to him. He ballooned his attempt over the bar. City started to get more into the game in the second period and striker Robbie Speakman linked well with Sales to put the County defence in all sorts of bother.

Between them, Jeff Eckhardt, Billy Clark and Ryan Souter may have hundreds of league appearances, but they are not yet a solid County unit.

It will take time for them to gel, although the signs are that they will provide County with a superb defence this season.

At the other end, Shephard had a penalty appeal refused after 64 minutes when he seemed to be brought down as he rounded his man in the penalty area, referee Bob Desmond waving play on.

Strangely enough, County's best chance of a goal was provided by City's Roger Emms who drove a clearance header towards goal, forcing Shuttlewood into a stunning save. However, with ten minutes to go, lady-luck and some last ditch efforts in defence twice stopped Salisbury from scoring.

First of all Speakman broke between two defenders, only for the saving tackle of Eckhardt to stop him shooting for goal.

Then Cook was allowed a free header which fortunately went straight to Mountain. The County lost 3-1 at home and 4-0 away to Salisbury last season, so they have already done well to take a point from their opponents, but Harris' men will have to finish more of their chances if a promotion run is to become a reality this season.

l Llanwern midfield player Dennis Spiteri is available for tonight's Welsh League, Division One home derby clash with Caerleon (6.15pm).

Spiteri has served a one-match ban but Llanwern, looking for a second successive win following their 3-1 opening day success over Penrhiwceiber, must do without left-sided midfield player Lee Ashman. Ashman cannot play because he his working.

Goalkeeper Lee Herring, after serving a one-match ban, returns to the Tredegar Town squad for their Division Two match at Merthyr Saints.

However, Tredegar are still without player-coach Shane Davies, serving a two-match ban and Kristian Lewis, banned for three games.